‘Political Newcomer’ Runs For Council Seat

A “committed Christian” is one of the first terms City Council candidate Paul Settanni uses to describe himself.

The father of three and woodworker by trade is a political newcomer but is eager to serve Post Falls as a councilman, he said.

“This is my community,” Settanni said. “I’m raising a family and running a small business and I care about my town.”

Settanni is running for a four-year council term on Nov. 2. Also in the race for the two open four-year terms are Vicki Caughran and incumbents Clay Larkin and Scott Grant.

Councilman Ron Jacobson is seeking election to the one available two-year term. He’s unopposed.

If elected, Settanni vowed to reflect the desires of the community and use common sense.

“Some people feel like the council isn’t really listening,” he said.

Settanni expects elected officials to represent him fairly, and in turn, if he became an elected official, he would be a voice for the people, he said.

One of his concerns has been unfiltered Internet access at the Post Falls Public Library. He contends teenagers use the computers for accessing pornography.

“It’s shocking but true that this filth is made available to our children in our taxpayer-funded library,” he wrote in a press release. “I hope the current council will take immediate steps to end this problem. If not, as your councilman, I will strive to end this disgrace in the next term.”

The library should install filtering software on computers in the main part of the library, and, in the computer room where access is unfiltered, no one under 18 should be allowed without a parent, he said.

“That’s the bare minimum that I’m asking for,” he said.

Settanni opposes a proposal by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to build a refueling depot outside of Hauser and over the region’s aquifer. Kootenai County has jurisdiction over the matter, but Post Falls should hold a public hearing of its own on the matter, get input from its citizens and submit a letter to the county stating the citizens’ views, he said. The railroad can’t guard against all human error or natural disasters such as earthquakes, he said.

The city passed an ordinance this month that restricts the locations and many of the daily operations of sexually oriented businesses. Settanni said he supports what the council is trying to do but wants to research ways to make the ordinance stricter.

“I don’t believe that it’s a strong enough deterrent,” he said. The fees and fines could be higher, for example, he said.

If the city put reasonable restrictions in place and still was sued over them, “I’d be willing to fight for them in a court of law,” Settanni said. “Our children are worth everything to us.”

Settanni likes the “small town flavor” of Post Falls, he said, and wants to become more active in the community, even if he isn’t elected.

Settanni has been going door-to-door as part of his campaign, talking to people in Post Falls. People have been surprised to see him, he said. Some know him through his woodworking business.

“I believe this is a neighborhood community,” he said.

He admires City Councilman Clay Larkin and would like to emulate Larkin’s personal involvement in the community, he said.

Settanni, 38, has lived in Post Falls for almost five years. He and his wife, Christine, have two sons and a daughter and also a nephew who lives with them.

The Settannis own The Gothic Image, a furniture refinishing and rebuilding business.

“I want to get in there to give a common-sense approach, which some people feel isn’t being done,” he said. “As a citizen I have to do my time and stand up for what’s right and fight what’s wrong.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: Paul Settanni

Resume: 38 … New to politics … Describes himself as a committed Christian … Owns The Gothic Image, a furniture refinishing and repairing business … Married to Christine, two sons and a daughter … Lived in Post Falls for almost five years.

Issues: Take common-sense approach to council business … Council should listen to citizens more … Children shouldn’t have access to pornography in the public library … Opposes the BNSF railroad’s proposal to build a refueling depot over the aquifer … Ordinance on sexually oriented businesses should be stricter.