Mary Souza announces her candidacy for mayor near the Third Street dock this morning in Coeur d'Alene (Photo: Duane Rasmussen)

Mary Souza and Councilman Dan Gookin are at Huckleberries Online HQ at this moment for a Q-and-A interview. (You can read Mary's informational statement here):

• Huckleberries: Some people think you have too much baggage to win a race for mayor. Obviously, you don't think so?
• Mary Souza: I wouldn't call it baggage because I think I've really been out front with people. People know where I'm coming from.
• Huckleberries: What issue will resonate the most with Coeur d'Alene voters?
• Mary Souza: It's going to be the fact that there was no vote on McEuen Field. It was a massive project, costs so much money, and changes a key part of our community history. I know it's going to look beautiful. And I'm sad that we're not all feeling a sense of cohesion and excitement together because it could have been that way. It has been very divisive. Regular people in town were asked to be part of that project by having a vote. They were denied that.
• DFO: How does the decision by Mayor Sandi Bloem (to not run for mayor) change the dynamics in this race?
• Mary Souza: I don't think it affects it. It doesn't matter who's running on the other side. I'm running to change the way things are done in our town. I made my decision to run before Mayor Bloem made her announcement.
• DFO: Are you going to be part of a ticket?
• Mary Souza: No, just me.
• DFO: How will Jim Brannon's presence in this race affect you?
• Mary Souza: This is  -- 100 percent -- not about R's and D's. This is the whole rest of the community that has been left out of the process. They wanted to be part of the process and the doors are closed. There are so many Democrats who have been supporters -- and even were at the announcement. My treasurer is a Democrat (Jim Doty).
• DFO: If you are elected mayor in November, what will be the first order of business in January?
• Mary Souza: The most important thing to start with is to bring people together. We have to heal some of the rifts that have happened. I will come in warm and friendly and try to build relationships within City Hall.
• DFO: How would you vote on the antidiscrimination ordinance?
• Mary Souza: If it's the exact ordinance that they were discussing at the General Services Committee (same as Boise ordinance), I would vote no. I am absolutely, completely in favor of equal protection for everyone under the law. And I believe that discrimination is never acceptable. However, that law, the way its written, has what I perceive to be serious problems. There are some items in there that are unenforceable. There are exceptions for certain groups that don't have to follow that law. How is that fair when its a law about discrimnation and yet it's discriminating?