Steve Adams

A candidate for Council Seat 5, City of Coeur d'Alene in the 2011 Idaho General Election

City: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Age: 49

His words: “With urban renewal, it employs the economic component of fascism with private-public partnerships, and we’re a capitalist nation. In my book, there’s no room for it. … If there’s a business that wants to come to town and they need infrastructure, then we go to a vote of the people for a bond to finance that.”

His pitch: Adams favors the City Council taking over the urban renewal board, shrinking it and possibly dissolving the agency, as he believes the state urban renewal law circumvents the Idaho Constitution. He favors attracting business by reducing regulations such as permit fees and zoning, and maybe with a property tax freeze. Adams wants to cut property taxes, and he would like to repeal collective bargaining with city employees or negotiate wage freezes. He also wants to study how to reduce the number of full-time city employees.

Experience: Adams is seeking his second term on the City Council. Serves on the city’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee and the General Services Committee. In 2010-12 he Served as Kootenai County Republican Central Committee precinct chairman in 2010-12, and as Republican Party District 4 chairman. Owner and independent agent at Avalanche Insurance.