Ullman answers her critics

BOISE -- By a narrow margin, Ada County voters put Sharon Ullman in office as a county commissioner.

It's not the first time she's held that post -- and many say, her reputation precedes her.

Ullman ran for the office of county commissioner three times before she was finally elected in 2000.

But her term was filled with tension.  Some called it a personality conflict with her co-commissioners, others accused her of being divisive.

Ullman always insisted she was simply standing up for what she believed.

After one term she was voted out of office, but got right back to campaigning and make two more attempts.

She's run as a Republican, a Democrat, an independent and, once again, a Republican in this most recent election.

Boise City Councilman Vern Bisterfeldt is a former commissioner. He did not serve with Ullman, but is certainly opinionated about her.

Before the results were in, we asked him about the prospect of Ullman being on the commission again.

"That would be the worst mistake that people in Ada County could make," said Bisterfeldt. "She's not interested in doing her job."

As you would expect, Ullman strongly disagrees and easily points to her list of accomplishments.

"I was a commissioner in 2001 and 2002.  You might remember I raised the issue about the 911 dispatch system.  I said it didn't work, lives were at risk and everybody ridiculed me.  Well, it's been replaced because it didn't work and lives were at risk.  I talked about the Western Idaho Fair and how Lariat Productions should not be allowed to take over.  Again I was ridiculed.  It took three years to evict them when the problems arose.  I brought to the public's attention a $20 million cash surplus that lead to a $6 million property tax rebate.  So, I guess it depends on your point of view.  I believe in doing the right thing for the public even if that means getting voted out of office because you're doing the right thing.  It doesn't mean you shut your mouth because well, geez, your colleagues don't like it," said Ullman.

We placed calls to her former and future co-commissioners.  From those in her past we got no comment, and we were not able to reach Rick Yzaguirre or Fred Tilman who she will work with starting in January.

Ullman says she's looking forward to working with her new colleagues.

Ironically, their meetings are held at the Ada County Courthouse, the construction of which Ullman opposed during her first term in office.