Council Winners Spent Most Copstead, Edinger, Reid All Spent More Than $1 Per Vote

City Council candidates with the most money to spread around got the most votes last month, according to financial disclosure forms.

The forms, filed late last week, show that real estate and construction interests were by far the largest contributors to city council candidates.

Longtime city planning commissioner Chris Copstead raised and spent $3,688, more than any other candidate in the municipal election. That’s about $2.19 per vote, considering Copstead received 1,681 votes.

His donations included $500 from National Associated Properties, a local real estate development company. That was the single largest contribution to any candidate.

Schneidmiller Realty, Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, North Idaho Building Contractors Association and Central Pre-Mix each gave Copstead $100. The Idaho Association of Realtors donated $150.

At the same time, Copstead received 37 contributions of less than $50, more than any other candidate who filed disclosure forms.

Ron Edinger tallied more votes than any other candidate - 1,747. But his campaign treasurer missed last Thursday’s deadline for filing campaign finance disclosure statements.

Edinger said he received about $2,400 in contributions and used it all - $1.37 per vote.

Dixie Reid, the only other candidate to win, received 1,322 votes and spent $1,623 - $1.23 a vote.

She received money from the North Idaho Building Contractors Association, the Idaho Association of Realtors, Schneidmiller Realty and Concerned Businesses of North Idaho.

Reid also got $150 from Jake Dodge, who owns property south of the Coeur d’Alene River near Blackwell Island. Reid provided a key council vote in favor of annexing Blackwell Island, which pushes city water and sewer services across the river.

That will inevitably mean the development of other property - like Dodge’s - said the Rural Kootenai Organization, a group fighting development outside the city limits.

Reid said she knows Dodge, but was not aware that he owns real estate near Blackwell Island.

Candidates who didn’t spend more than $1 a vote didn’t make it. That includes D.E. “Sam” Sears, who spent $1,125 and received 1,160 votes - or 96 cents a vote.

Sears spent about $800 of his own money and attracted $225 in contributions less than $50. He was the only candidate not to get donations from Concerned Business of North Idaho

Robert J. Wachter, who received the fewest votes - 895 - also spent the least amount of money. He spent $848, or 94 cents a vote. His donations came from Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, Don Barton Oldsmobile, himself and the Idaho Association of Realtors.

, DataTimes