Analysis Of Voter Turnout Overdone, But It Was Poor
The Associated Press read too much into Idaho’s poor voter turnout during last week’s city elections. Among the top five cities, turnout ranged from 29 percent in Lewiston to 15 percent in Twin Falls. Further down the list, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls had respective turnouts of only 15.4 percent and 22.8 percent. The AP equates voter apathy with contentment with the status quo: GOP dominance in Idaho, four more years of Clinton. I see it as an off-year election with no controversial issues to excite voters. But they’ll be back next year when the Idaho ballot offers elections for president, the U.S. Senate and a fistful of initiatives including the Third Coming of the One Percent and Anti-Gay II. Still, you gotta wonder why 84.6 percent of Coeur d’Alene has better things to do than have a voice in its city government. The government closest to the voters. The government that provides their fire and police protection - that decides how far and how fast the city grows. You couch potatoes deserve a Hot Potato for sitting this one out.
Status quo sides with ‘Thong Man’
“Thong Man’s” right to bare buns on City Beach survived another election when Councilman-elect Chris Copstead won a seat on the Coeur d’Alene council. Like retiring Councilman Mike McDowell, Copstead opposes a city ban on thong bathing suits. The council remains one vote short of a deadlock, which would allow Mayor Al Hassell to decide the matter. The mayor favors a thong ban. Of course, Hassell has yet to announce a replacement for the vacancy caused when former Councilman Dan English resigned to become the Kootenai County clerk. So, all is not lost for those of us who are tired of the council’s tolerance of Thong Man’s immodesty.
Gender equity sounds good unless …
If North Idaho College trustees want gender equity in sports, they must be willing to pay for it. In a Saturday bull session, trustees ordered administrators to develop a plan that provides equal opportunities for NIC’s men and women athletes. That sounds noble on the surface. Now, women get only a third of the resources devoted to athletics - though they comprise 60 percent of the student body. Still, a radical shift in spending, without an increase in spending, could emasculate NIC’s nationally recognized men’s wrestling and basketball programs (which seems to be the goal of some community spoilsports). That’s not what a blue-ribbon panel appointed by the trustees recommended following a lengthy public process. Keep a close eye on this one.
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