Hawkins dominates discussion: County commission candidates square off in pre-ballot forum

Whitman County’s development agreement with Boise-based Hawkins Companies and the revenues the deal is aimed at boosting topped the agenda of a commissioner candidate forum Tuesday night.

The forum featured candidates for the two commissioner seats that will be on ballots mailed out by the county elections office Friday.

Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Pat O’Neill of Johnson defended his Jan. 3 decision to increase the county’s commitment to build infrastructure at Hawkins proposed 714,000-square-foot stateline strip mall from the $9 million agreed upon in 2008 to $15 million. O’Neill, a Dem...