Mayor Hassell To Seek Re-Election Packard Only Council Member To Decline Run

Al Hassell, who upset the only two-term mayor in the Lake City’s history four years ago - Ray Stone - will run for a second term.

There are strong indications six-year City Council veteran Nancy Sue Wallace also will file for another term. And Susan Servick, appointed in 1995 to fill Dan English’s unfinished term, is strongly considering putting her name on the Nov. 4 ballot.

But Kevin Packard says he will leave the council when his term expires at the end of this year, leaving the door open to new candidates. One of them may be businesswoman Deanna Goodlander, who applied for appointment to the council when English left to become Kootenai County clerk.

Candidates can file their petitions for office from Friday through Sept. 25, City Clerk Susan Weathers said. Each petition must have valid signatures from 40 registered Coeur d’Alene voters who support the candidacy.

Hassell, 53, one of two owners of an insurance and financial planning service, says he wants to continue to stay involved in the community. Four years ago, he ran on a platform of getting back to basics, “doing the jobs that government does best and staying out of the those things it doesn’t.”

He wants to continue that effort and concentrate on unfinished business.

His accomplishments include improvements to streets, sewers and other parts of the infrastructure, dealing with growth and computerizing the city. All of this has been done while keeping the city portion of property taxes level or lowering them.

“There’s not too many things that are the same price they were four years ago,” he said.

Coeur d’Alene is the only city in the state, outside of Ada County, using impact fees. The city “has a very stable work force and we couldn’t have done it without a secure work force that works hard,” Hassell said.

The mayor’s main piece of unfinished business is increasing the number of block watches and neighborhood organizations to help the city keep on top of its needs, he said. The greatest challenge, he said, “will be to preserve the things people come here for and stay here for.”

Wallace said she will announce her intentions Friday. Servick says she hasn’t made up her mind, but “it’s more likely than not.”

Packard, however, is parting to take care of his personal life. “I have six kids. I’m very busy in my church. It’s very difficult for me to make time for everything,” he said.

Elected in 1993, Packard almost left the council two years ago because of his obligations. It was a good experience, despite the demands, he said.

“It’s been great associating with the other members of the council,” Packard said. The rapport is good, even when council members disagree.

“They are real respectful of each other,” he said.

And the qualifications for a replacement?

“Someone with the time available. An individual who would be able to stand up to scrutiny without caving in” to pressure from the public, city employees and other council members.

, DataTimes