Gregory McKenzie, North Idaho College Trustee Zone 4

Economic Hardship Reporting Project · May 2025

He compared the NIC accreditation crisis to the "Russia collusion hoax" in a column for The People's Pen, a far-right mailer that promotes election fraud theories.
He framed the accreditation sanctions as a power struggle, writing that NIC leadership "would rather burn down NIC than give up power."

Spokesman-Review · October 2024

Idaho Ed News · October 2024

While under the worst accreditation sanction in Idaho history, he said the college was doing "outstanding."
No Idaho college has ever lost accreditation. NIC came the closest under his board.

Coeur d'Alene Press · March 2024

A fellow trustee called him "equally detrimental to the college's success" and asked him to resign.
He ran for re-election anyway, on a "Make NIC Great Again" platform, and lost.

Lewiston Tribune · 2024

He ran for re-election after the accreditation crisis and raised only $1,500 to his opponent's $28,000.
He lost.

Spokesman-Review · May 2022

He sued to block the state from appointing replacement trustees. He lost that too.
His KCRCC majority was reduced to a 2-of-5 minority.

KREM · December 2022

When the student government presented a resolution calling for change, he refused to read it into the meeting record.
Named by the NIC staff assembly chair as one of three board members of concern; NWCCU declared the board "dysfunctional."

Idaho Capital Sun · April 2022

He voted to fire the college president without cause. The wrongful termination lawsuit cost taxpayers about $500,000.
When a fellow trustee called for accountability, he publicly defended the wrongdoing instead.

KREM · March 2022

Community members submitted 1,000 index cards asking McKenzie and Banducci to resign.
Counselors in Coeur d'Alene schools were already steering students toward other colleges as a result of the board's conduct.

Coeur d'Alene Press · March 2022

A woman told the Press that McKenzie approached her at a KCRCC meeting and tried to recruit her for a "scheme" to infiltrate the Kootenai Democratic Party by registering as Democrats. (archive)
When she declined, McKenzie asked if she would recruit other volunteers instead. He later told the Press he did not recall the conversation.

Coeur d'Alene Press · September 2021

Their actions triggered the accreditation investigation and caused all three Vice Presidents and one Dean to leave the college.
This is documented in the accreditor's official findings.