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Although it isn’t official yet, Mayor Sandi Bloem told Huckleberries this morning that she will 
seek a historic third term this fall. “I’m healthy, and I love what I’m doing,” Bloem said. “I’m in a good place.” Ray Stone is the only other Coeur d’Alene mayor to be elected to two, four-year terms. He was defeated by Al Hassell in his attempt to be elected for a third term. Bloem said she wasn’t prompted to seek re-election to finish a particular project, like the Education Corridor or the Midtown renovation. She simply enjoys her role as part of a progressive team that involves city staff and community leaders. “I want to continue as part of this team and to play another game.” She said she wants to be part of bringing other worthy programs and projects to the Lake City, like the Kroc Center and Ironman Coeur d’Alene. Mayor Bloem said she hasn’t set a date to officially announce plans for re-election.
Question: How would you rate Sandi Bloem’s performance over the past 8 years?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Aliasjax on March 13 at 11:25 a.m.
Excellent…can’t wait to support her.
GaryIngram on March 13 at 11:36 a.m.
Personally, I like her. But that is sometimes a problem for me. Because of my nature, I really like everybody unless they dump on me personally, then watch out. But enough of me. Back to the Mayor. If I have one criticsm, it is that she allows the council to abuse members of the public with their deriding put downs. She should be more protective of the public who come to offer opinion or testify by using her gavel on some of these offensive council members.
hmoffsuite on March 13 at 11:40 a.m.
I think she has made several wrong moves and Blackwell Island annexation is just one of them. For the life of me, I can’t see why that didn’t happen. Perhaps she has a bit of her own agenda.
JohnA on March 13 at 12:34 p.m.
In a word, fantastic.
Considering the mess she inherited and the difficult issues she has had to face, I can’t think of a better steward for the city’s leadership.
She looked inside city staff to find the best candidates for administrator, police chief and fire chief, ending the revolving doors in those departments from people brought in from someplace else. She tackled the biggest problems with professionalism and care, and did it with a little dose of style thown in.
To HMoff, she has placed the good of her town ahead of her friendships. Never was that more evident than with her leadership on two Hagadone’s proposals, the vacating of Sherman Avenue for a garden and further annexation of Blackwell Island. Each proposal had tremendous merit and both sides were in agreement on the basic premise. However, Mayor Bloem noted the impact on the downtown by the Sherman vacation and took the appropriate leadership on that issue.
Likewise, Hagadone’s plans for Blackwell boiled down to a sticky issue over the width of the bike and pedestrian path already established when the Hall family annexed part of Blackwell Island for the RV park. They were key points for Hagadone and equally key for the city, and I believe the city did the right thing in the end. We’ll see with his new proposal for Blackwell if there is mutual agreement on all issues. Many people fully support the marina upgrade and expansion because of the quality of the work he does. I hope small issues don’t crop up again to derail that project.
Finally, I think it’s important to maintain the current leadership as important issues proceed, including the Ed Corridor. My hat’s off to Mayor Bloem for taking on another term.
christiewood on March 13 at 12:40 p.m.
Warning….my comments will percieved as kissing up. I do not care. …The truth is she is the best leader the City has had in my 19 years of employment. Mayor Bloem embraces and models the core values of strong leadership.
From her first day on the job to what ever meeting she probably just left with City staff, she encourages team work, input from every level no matter what your job title is, and she fosters a sense of community and mutual respect among employees.
I can call on her at anytime (remember..she is not paid a full time salary) and she will attend blockwatch meetings with me or saftey seminars that allows for constant interaction with the people who live in our neighborhoods. We(city employees) have never been more focused or committed to public service and what that actually means, since she has been at the helm. The short synopsis is”WE LOVE HER” and want her to continue in her leadership role.
christiewood on March 13 at 12:48 p.m.
Whoops….percieved= perceived. i before e except after c!
coeurgenx on March 13 at 12:49 p.m.
What’s NOT TO LOVE ABOUT HER? Our beautiful city continues to get national recognition for such things as our beautiful new Library.. We are receiving an ENORMOUS Gift with the KROC Center. I feel we live in a very safe town and please if anyone questions her ability to lead then try to keep up with her busy schedule which is attending meetings/functions 6+ nights a week. When I brag about how great CdA is to all my friends and family I know it starts from the top and it’s all because of HER…<d>
thomg57 on March 13 at 1:35 p.m.
Mayor Bloem has lead this city with integrity, class and style. In the face of near constant criticism from a small but vocal clique of critics she has remained thoughtfully committed to serving our city. I respect and appreciate our mayor. I’ll vote for her and do anything I can to help her win another term.
joebu on March 13 at 1:45 p.m.
hey, welcome back Thom!
eagleeye on March 13 at 2:28 p.m.
Sandi deserves to reelected and I will support her. I think her best trait is that she is fair and listens to both sides and makes decisions based on what is best for the city. I think she needs to reign in some arrogant staff members and maybe be a tad more financially conservative but overall I would give her an A-.
wheels on March 14 at 9:52 a.m.
Cmon Hmoff Quit beating the Hagadone drum. ” For the life of me I can’t understand”??? Duane would have the Blackwell Island issue resolved if he only would have agreed to a wider bike and pedestrian path.He lost considerable time and $$$ squabling over 2ft.Maybe this time he’ll get it right.I personally think it’ll be a fabulous development to an area that could use a little sprucing up and I support him wholeheartely.His Garden proposal was a disaster for many reasons and egotistical.As for Mayor Bloem she has no hidden agenda and I can’t wait to back her for an unprecedented 3rd term.She’s done a great job.She will be overwhelmingly re-elected…Bet on it.