I had a moment of clarity a coupla nights ago re: the challengers in the City Council races. If any of the challengers succeed, he will be the source of much mischief on the council over the next four years. He won’t have the votes to do anything. But he’ll provide Mary, Bill, Spencer & Co. with access to the inner sanctum. You’ve seen the craziness for the last 30 months, from Dirtgate and the partisan letter against the Kroc Center to stop Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, to the allegations by the Far Right in this community that the current mayor and council got Jim Brannon fired. You’ll see four more years of this nonsense. If one of the challengers can grab a seat, he’ll immediately become Mike Patrick’s best friend and be used to bedevil the Bloem administration on the Press editorial pages. However, if all three lose, Patrick and Hagadone HQ will have little to do with them. We’re approaching a defining moment in this community. Will we relegate Gookin, Souza, Bill, Spencer, & Co. to the margins where they belong? Or will we allow one of them to get in to provide a foothold to continue their attempt to undercut progress in this community? Not only do you need to vote, but you need to tell your family, friends, and neighbors over the next three days what’s at stake in this election/DFO.

Question: Do you consider the coming municipal elections in Coeur d'Alene to be pivotal? Or do they matter much at all?