Races:
- November 2022 Kootenai County Commissioner – WON
- May 2022 Kootenai County Commissioner Primary – WON
News
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Sheriff Norris refutes allegations – Kootenai Journal, March 2024
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 -
Sheriff’s office relies on hundreds of special deputies – Coeur d’Alene Press, November 2023
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-
Primary source: Mattare’s own campaign website
Mattare himself states: “In 2019 I became Sheriff Bob Norris’ Campaign Manager and am now a special deputy advisor to him”
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Primary source: Mattare’s own campaign website
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Mattare accused of ‘doxxing’ – Coeur d’Alene Press, April 2022
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 -
Kootenai County candidates face off in virtual forum – KREM, April 2022
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 -
Mattare KO’s Fillios in commissioner race – Coeur d’Alene Press, May 2022
Fillios repeatedly criticized Mattare’s involvement with BlueHippo throughout the campaign; Mattare won the Republican primary 69% to 31% -
NCD Financial LLC – BBB Business Profile – Better Business Bureau
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 -
Primary source: FTC press release: BlueHippo defendants will pay up to $5 million to settle FTC charges – Federal Trade Commission, February 2008
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 -
Primary source: FTC press release: FTC lodges contempt charge against BlueHippo – Federal Trade Commission, November 2009
After the $5M settlement, BlueHippo collected over $15 million more from consumers and shipped at most one computer; over 35,000 customers affected -
Primary source: FTC press release: FTC obtains $13.4 million judgment against former BlueHippo defendant – Federal Trade Commission, May 2016
Final judgment of $13,400,627.60 entered against BlueHippo CEO Joseph Rensin; BlueHippo filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy December 9, 2009 -
Primary source: FTC case file: BlueHippo Funding LLC and BlueHippo Capital LLC – Case #052-3092 – Federal Trade Commission
Complete FTC case file including complaint, stipulated final judgment, and all subsequent contempt proceedings
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