NorthwestJuly 20, 2000

MOSCOW -- Latah County Commissioner Loreca Stauber Wednesday repeated that she made a "mistake" when she failed to invite Latah County Prosecutor William W. Thompson Jr. to discussions about acquiring outside civil counsel for the county.

Thompson, who was on vacation when the discussion was scheduled, returned a memo to Stauber expressing his concerns about being left out of the talks.

"Bill, the omission was not intentional. I realized this after I was on my way home. Thought of calling to apologize, but did not," Stauber wrote in a Monday afternoon e-mail.

By that time, however, Thompson already had fired off his own e-mail saying he was "surprised" the talks were scheduled and no one from his office was invited. "I would appreciate the board taking appropriate steps to ensure that my office receives any future memos such as Commissioner Stauber's from last Friday," Thompson wrote after coming back to his office from vacation.

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Stauber also blasted the Lewiston Tribune for blowing the exchange of e-mails "out of proportion."

Thompson has written no more e-mails since the initial exchange.

Stauber, however, wrote one more Tuesday. "Bill, I hope by now you have received the e-mail stating the reasons why I failed to include your name among those to receive the notice about a conversation on civil counsel. While it is expected you will be interested in participating in such discussion, I do not see that your ability to be present determines whether or not such a conversation between the board and others can take place. You have many conversations in your office to which (the board) and other public officials are not privy to."

Thompson acknowledged the two public officials have had strained relations, but refused further comment. Stauber said she has "no problem with Bill."

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