Are Gookin, Souza mainstream?
The decision by Barbara Hedden to drop out of her Coeur d'Alene City Council race with incumbent Dan Gookin all but ensures that Gookin will be on the council for four more years. The ultimate outsider has become a fixture at City Hall. We'll know in 6 weeks whether his side kick in opposition to McEuen Park -- Councilman Steve Adams -- will continue to ride shotgun for him. I couldn't have imagined a scenario six years ago in which Gookin, Mary Souza and Kathy Sims would be elected representatives in Coeur d'Alene. Souza and Sims, of course, were ring leaders in the divisive attempt to recall then mayor Sandi Bloem and three members of the Coeur d'Alene City Council. Souza was throttled by Steve Widmyer in the 2013 mayoral race only to bounce back six months later to win the GOP nomination in the closed primary and go on to become our state senator. So what does the current elected standing of Souza and Gookin mean? That the controversies involving McEuen Park and the recall attempt are firmly in the rear-view mirror? That the two are better connected with the average Coeur d'Alene resident than I suspect? That sheer name recognition and persistence in fighting urban renewal for the past decade finally won the pair an official seat at the table? Importantly, are Gookin and Souza capable of reaching beyond their group of partisan, right-wing supporters and representing the entire community going forward? CDAIndependent mentioned in a comment that he's becoming more impressed with Souza's ability to listen to those who aren't aligned with her. We'll see. Ditto for Gookin. Meanwhile, I don't hold out the hope that state Rep. Kathy Sims is as open-minded to different points of view/DFO.
