Trustees unanimously hired Spokane, Wash., law firm Stevens Clay as North Idaho College’s general counsel, during a special meeting Wednesday evening.

The firm replaces controversial Sandpoint attorney Colton Boyles. NIC’s new board majority terminated Boyles’ contract last month.

Boyles scored the lowest on a NIC administrators’ review of four candidates in 2023, at a 60% rating. The other finalist at the time was Stevens Clay, which scored 97%.

Despite the difference in the scores, the then-board majority voted 3-2 to hire Boyles, who had extensive ties to right-wing politicians, including former gubernatorial candidate Ammon Bundy. Trustees Brad Corkill and Tarie Zimmerman opposed his hiring.

The two of the three trustees who voted for Boyles did not run for re-election. The third, Greg McKenzie lost his re-election bid in November.

The three newly elected trustees — Eve Knudtsen, Mary Havercroft, and Rick Durbin — voted with Zimmerman to terminate Boyles at their first meeting last month. Corkill was absent.

Lake City Law also put in a proposal for the role after last month’s request for proposals. They had a more narrow hourly fee range of $180 to $275. Stevens Clay’s range was $150 to $295 per hour.

Lake City scored an overall 89% on their proposal compared to Stevens Clay’s 96%. Stevens Clay specializes in representing educational institutions, according to their proposal.