COOPERSTOWN, N.D. (AP Oct 10, 2013) – A critic of the five Griggs County commissioners who were voted out of office this week says it’s a victory not only for county residents but also for democratic government.
 
     John Wakefield says the first thing he and the other four new commissioners plan to do is call for an independent audit to get more information about the actions of their predecessors.
 
     The commissioners ousted in Tuesday’s recall election voted last spring to proceed with building a $3.5 million courthouse despite three public votes against it. Doing so helped secure a $1 million federal grant for the project. But Wakefield says the decision was “political suicide.”
 
     Ousted commissioner Keith Monson says the commission knew the decision wouldn’t be popular.