Mayor Candidates Agree On Problems
The mayor here and four incumbent council members have all stepped aside. That makes next month’s election a free-for-all among newcomers.
Businessman John Conlan, along with councilmen Ray Miller and David Sawyer, all want Mayor Ron Chaney’s $800-a-month job.
The three agree on the basics, saying Sandpoint needs to attract more small businesses and provide jobs for the area’s youth.
The town must come together to keep the Festival at Sandpoint from moving to Kootenai County, they said. And the city’s image - tarnished when former L.A. police detective Mark Fuhrman moved here - needs polishing, they said.
“What we really need is to bring some common sense back into government,” said Conlan. “This festival thing is not a Bosnia problem. We just need to sit down and talk about it. That hasn’t been done.”
Sawyer agrees. He’s often attacked the current administration for ignoring the public in decision-making.
“There has been a tremendous lack of respect for residents. The city isn’t listening to them,” he said.
Sawyer cited forced annexation plans by the city a year ago. Even though a majority of residents to be annexed opposed it, the council proceeded. Sawyer voted against the plan which was later deemed illegal.
“We need to get back to the basics of serving the public,” Sawyer said. He also wants the city to complete long-range plans to deal with growth, a cause of many of the city’s problems, he said.
“We need vision for what this community should be. It’s time to stop being reactive and become proactive.”
Miller, a 14-year councilman, has already run twice for mayor and lost. He’s offering stability and continuity to the soon-to-be overhauled council.
“You bring about change by working within the system,” he said. “I’ve been in a position to know what’s required. Experience counts.”
Getting a U.S. Highway 95 bypass over Sand Creek is one of Miller’s top priorities along with cracking down on juvenile crime.
In the city’s council races, five residents - Michael Boge, Dave Crettol, Sue Haynes, Gil Morris and Francis Ogilvie - are vying for three at-large seats with four-year terms. Valle Novak is unopposed for a two-year term.
The candidates campaign on many of the same issues, such as restoring public trust in government, fixing downtown parking and traffic congestion and stopping the Festival at Sandpoint from moving some concerts to Kootenai County next summer.
“My sincere desire is to give a voice back to the people of this city,” said Ogilvie, a 45-year-old businessman. “Too many times the council makes decisions without discussing the public’s concerns.”
Boge, 41, said the city is at a critical crossroads and the current council has shirked responsibility for deciding Sandpoint’s future.
Boge cited the festival’s recent decision to take half its shows to Kootenai County as an example.
“The city should have mediated a solution long ago, but did nothing.”
Haynes, 41, is the daughter of outgoing city councilwoman Josephine Hanson. She said criticism leveled at the council is undeserved. Government decisions will always be unpopular with some residents, she said.
“We have to do what is good for the entire community not special interest groups,” she said, adding that an agreement with the festival can still be worked out.
Dave Crettol, 53, is pushing for better city planning. The comprehensive land plan has not been updated since 1978.
“I find it difficult to believe that a mayor and council looks back 17 years to deal with current problems.”
Gil Morris, 32, is of the same mind. Sandpoint is growing and the city needs a master plan to deal with it, rather than taking on problems in piecemeal fashion.
“We can’t stop people from coming so we have to work with the community to decide where to put the growth,” Morris said. “I want a voice in that process.”
, DataTimes MEMO: See individual profiles by name of candidate.