Edinger Seeks Another Term Coeur D’Alene Councilman Focuses On Growth And Taxes

Ron Edinger can’t fathom the word “quit.”

So, after nearly 26 years in city politics, he’s running for another four-year term on the Coeur d’Alene City Council.

It’s the sort of thing that prompts his fellow council members to joke that he will be on the council long after they are gone - as in forever.

“I enjoy working with people and their problems,” said Edinger, 59. Growth is chief among those problems.

“Our street department, fire, water and police are getting stretched pretty thin,” Edinger said when he announced his re-election campaign Wednesday. That doesn’t mean he’s anti-growth, but rather, that he believes there needs to be caution about where growth goes.

For example, Edinger doesn’t favor pushing the city limits south of the Spokane River under any circumstances. He made that clear earlier this week before the council voted to annex Blackwell Island and start the southward move.

Edinger also is pushing for ways to relieve traffic congestion, improve the east end of Sherman Drive and bring more jobs to the area. And the city should be back before the Legislature pushing for impact fees to help cover the cost of development, he said.

The biggest challenge is keeping taxes down, Edinger said - no surprise this campaign season, considering voters effectively have made that the North Idaho motto.

Edinger works for the Coeur d’Alene School District when he’s not pursuing city politics. He first was elected to the council in 1968 and was mayor from 1974 to 1978. He took a two-year break after losing a mayoral re-election race and then returned to the council in 1980.

He was unopposed in the last election.

D.E. “Sam” Sears, a retired U.S. Forest Service employee, also has filed for a council seat.

Incumbent Councilman Mike McDowell is not running for reelection, leaving people wondering if he will run for Kootenai County assessor in two years.

Dixie Reid, also a council incumbent, hasn’t announced her intentions.

Anyone who wants to run for the council must gather 40 signatures on a petition and return it to City Hall between Sept. 28 and Oct. 10. Packets are available at City Hall. There is no filing fee.

The election will be Nov. 7.

, DataTimes