Candidates add names to City Council race

Coeur d’Alene – With a week left before the deadline, two Coeur d’Alene residents have filed as candidates for three open seats on City Council.

Dan Gookin and Susie Snedaker filed Friday.

Gookin, a community activist and former Libertarian candidate for the Idaho Senate, is running for Councilman Ron Edinger’s seat. Edinger indicated this week that he likely will seek re-election.

Snedaker is seeking the seat held by longtime Councilwoman Dixie Reid, who announced Thursday she will not run again.

Gookin has been a critic of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, the Lake City Development Corp., and its role in funding private development. He has also questioned the city’s help in funding the Kroc Community Center.

Snedaker is a former member of the Coeur d’Alene Planning Commission.

Also up for grabs this November is Councilman Al Hassell’s seat. Hassell has not filed formally, but he has appointed a campaign treasurer and said he will likely run again.

– Taryn Brodwater

Rathdrum

Steele won’t seek second term as mayor

Rathdrum Mayor Brian Steele has announced he will not seek re-election this fall.

“My heart just wasn’t in another four years of this,” Steele said.

His decision will end his 12 years of service to the city, which is experiencing rapid growth. Steele served two consecutive terms on the Rathdrum City Council before being elected mayor in 2003.

“I feel we have a great city staff with Brett Boyer, the city administrator, and Kevin Fuhr, the police chief. I just feel I’m leaving it in good hands,” Steele said Friday.

He decided earlier in the week not to run again, reversing his earlier plans. Work obligations and the demanding schedule required of the mayor persuaded him to step down, he said.

Steele manages marketing and sales for Ponsness/Warren, a Rathdrum company that designs, builds and distributes supplies for recreational shooters.

Candidates have until Friday to announce their intent to run for mayor and two open council seats.

So far, only Vic Holmes, a councilman, has announced formally that he’ll run for mayor.

–Paula Davenport

omak, Wash.

Fast-moving wildfire threatens 20 homes

A wildfire near Omak that grew from nothing to 6,000 acres Thursday is 20 percent contained, but it’s still threatening 20 homes, a fire official said.

The South Omak Lake Fire, located at the southern tip of the lake about 13 miles southeast of Omak, has drawn 175 firefighters and support personnel, said Roland Emetaz, fire information officer for Washington Incident Management Team 5. Fueled by steady winds, the blaze raged Thursday but calmed down Friday.

“Things are pretty quiet,” Emetaz said Friday evening. “We had a pretty good day – little movement of the fire.”

Officials believe the wildfire, which is mainly burning on the Colville Indian Reservation, is human-caused. An investigation is under way, Emetaz said.

Firefighters expect forecast thunderstorms to miss the fire but planned to be on the lookout Friday night and this morning for rogue storm cells, Emetaz said.

– Nick Eaton