Bruce Mattare

Mattare co-hosted Norris's "Show Your Proof" event targeting a sheriff challenger; Norris admitted he relies on Mattare for political counsel and communications as his special deputy adviser

Confirms Mattare is the only elected official in Kootenai County with special deputy status; Norris swore him in after Mattare managed his 2020 campaign; Mattare advises the sheriff on messaging and news releases while also voting on the sheriff's budget; special deputies sign nondisclosure agreements

During his 2022 campaign Mattare posted a photo of a female Democratic legislative candidate's home on his public Facebook page with her vehicle and street sign clearly visible; he removed it only after her husband called him

Opponent Chris Fillios alleged Mattare "helped engineer programs that took advantage of vulnerable populations" at BlueHippo and suggested he "traded information for immunity from prosecution"; Mattare denied profiting and said he left after 14 months and assisted FTC regulators

Fillios repeatedly criticized Mattare's involvement with BlueHippo throughout the campaign; Mattare won the Republican primary 69% to 31%

Confirms Bruce Mattare as owner of NCD Financial LLC (National Credit Direct), currently operating in Coeur d'Alene while he serves as county commissioner, using "GUARANTEED APPROVAL regardless of credit" marketing targeting consumers with bad credit — the same model as BlueHippo

FTC Case #052-3092; BlueHippo targeted consumers with bad credit, collected hundreds in payments, and failed to deliver computers; Mattare was Senior Vice President when the company was founded in 2003

After the $5M settlement, BlueHippo collected over $15 million more from consumers and shipped at most one computer; over 35,000 customers affected

Final judgment of $13,400,627.60 entered against BlueHippo CEO Joseph Rensin; BlueHippo filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy December 9, 2009

Complete FTC case file including complaint, stipulated final judgment, and all subsequent contempt proceedings