Continue ‘90S Run Of Capable Leaders Experience And Progressive Ideas Make Clay Larkin And Scott Grant Easy Choices In The Post Falls City Council Races.

Post Falls today is much different from the sleepy town of the 1980s, led by progressive mayors Frank Henderson and Kent Helmer.

Fifteen years ago, there was no Riverbend Commerce Park, with its Factory Outlets and University of Idaho Research Park. Or Templin’s Resort. Or Highlands Golf and Country Club. Or Quad Park. Or the East Seltice Way business strip. Or even a full interchange at Spokane Street.

After decades of being no more than a bedroom community for Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, Post Falls is coming into its own because it’s been led by visionaries. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the councils led by Henderson, Helmer and Jim Hammond had the foresight to prod residents to hook to a city sewer system. To extend sewer lines westward so the Jacklin brothers could realize their dream to build Riverbend. To extend water lines eastward, to trigger commercial development along East Seltice. To begin fixing city streets. To expand water and sewer capacity.

Throughout the period, the key strength of city government has been its continuity of good leaders. Now, as Post Falls prepares to bring a new high school on line and still is enjoying the newness of its library, the two pillars of the current council are seeking re-election: Clay Larkin and Scott Grant. The Idaho Spokesman-Review endorses their candidacies without hesitation.

Larkin epitomizes the meaning of public servant. This 63-year-old whirlwind had already served his community well before he won his council seat four years ago. He’d chaired the Post Falls School Board, been the assistant chief for the volunteer fire department, and been president of the Post Falls Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Grant, a probation and parole supervisor for the Idaho Department of Corrections, has an impressive resume of community involvement, too. He’s also served as council president for the past four years.

Together, Larkin and Grant have worked to pass library and high school bond elections, finish paving gravel streets, and improve the infrastructure. If elected, their primary goals are to build a new police station without raising taxes, expand the city’s trail system, help the school district build multiple-use playfields on nine acres at 21st and Idaho, and continue lobbying for commercial and industrial growth.

Of the two remaining candidates, Vicki Caughran has been involved with youth and recreation, which we consider important. Two years from now, she easily could be one of our picks for a council seat. Conversely, Paul Settanni is interested in social issues, such as filtering Internet access at the public library, that have little to do with the nuts-and-bolts grind of running a city.

Post Falls has kept pace with its rapid growth because it has had experienced, community-minded candidates ready to carry on. This year is no different.