Bodman Says He Will Tell It Like It Is Council Candidate Claims City Government Needs Someone With New Ideas, Views

Editor’s note: This is the first of five articles this week on candidates for the Post Falls City Council.

Joe Bodman is not the type to mince words.

A two-time candidate for the Post Falls City Council, the Kootenai County sheriff’s deputy openly criticizes the operations of the city.

“I’m just sick of the crap that goes on over there,” he said in a recent interview.

He ran for office two years ago and lost. This time, he’s one of five candidates running for two seats on the City Council. The top two vote-getters in the Nov. 4 election will be the winners.

Bodman complains that the City Council continues to annex land without considering the impact that will have on schools and roads.

“Don’t annex the property until we take responsibility for the roads,” he advised.

He points to the Montrose housing development at Chase and Pole Line roads which was annexed recently by the city. Gary R. Schneidmiller owns the property, plans for which call for 1,613 new homes by 2010.

While the Montrose development does allot land for a school, “that’s not good enough,” Bodman said, unless Schneidmiller vows to help pass the next bond issue to build a school.

Bodman says the council lacks people who will bring up opposing viewpoints - something he would do frequently.

“It’s so one-sided,” he said. “If they don’t like what they’re hearing, they’ll table the issue.”

He also criticizes what he sees as a city willing to spend too much money on toys for its Police Department and not enough on salaries.

“They spend $3,000 for computers in the patrol cars. The computers don’t work,” he said. “That money could be spent better.”

In general, the city spends too much money on high salaries for department heads while people in lower positions don’t get paid enough, he said.

But the city falls short in spending on parks and programs for children, Bodman said.

“Your problem is that you give kids something to do and they won’t be getting into trouble,” he said. “The more you get kids involved, the less you’re going to get problems.”

As a father of four and a children’s soccer and football coach, Bodman said kids are especially important to him.

He complained that he’s never seen any of the current City Council members at school board meetings on school overcrowding. Because he lists schools as one of his top concerns, he would attend the meetings when possible.

“I would probably be outspoken to the public, try to get them involved,” he said on his plans if elected.

“I’ll tell people how it is. If I think they’re overspending on something, I’ll say it and I’ll get the public support, too.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ELECTION NOTES Polling places in Post Falls for the Nov. 4 general election have changed. Voters who live from Idaho Street east will vote at the National Guard Armory at 5555 E. Seltice Way. Voters who live from Idaho Street west will vote at the Oddfellows Hall at 200 E. Railroad. Eligible voters who have not registered may do so at their polling sites on the day of the election. In addition to the City Council race, the ballot will include a library bond issue and the mayoral race. Mayor Gus Johnson is running unopposed.