Lake City Voters In Enviable Position

Coeur d’Alene has the best slate of City Council candidates in recent memory. Most have at least two of the three qualities we value in awarding our endorsements: professional competence, civic and community involvement, and experience in local government.

In fact, a case could be made that Coeur d’Alene would have a better council than the current one if it took the best five in this field and added council President Nancy Sue Wallace.

The Idaho Spokesman-Review had no trouble in picking two candidates to endorse for the three four-year terms: incumbent Ron Edinger and newcomer Jim Brannon. But the third one boiled down to a tough choice among incumbents Chris Copstead and Dixie Reid, and businesswoman Peggy Sawicki. Ultimately, Copstead’s proven dedication to youth, recreation and the community center gave him an edge.

Edinger is the heart of the council, an Everyman to whom constituents turn first when they have a problem. He provides the council with an institutional memory and common sense. Edinger’s presence on the council will guarantee that any changes to McEuen Field and the public waterfront will face tough scrutiny.

Brannon blends fiscal conservatism and vision. He’s a financial consultant who has seen the boom and bust of East St. Louis, Ill., and doesn’t want it to happen here. In other words, he may be a number cruncher but he knows government has to take care of the basics, while not ignoring the important extras like parks and recreation. He will view passage of the community center advisory vote as a mandate and work to ensure the financing package is put together properly.

Copstead is a former city planner who underscored his dedication to youth activities by trying to operate a youth club. Despite a valiant effort, it failed. Since then, Copstead has poured himself into the effort to build a community center, resisting pressure to take the issue off the municipal ballot. He backs rerouting a dangerous stretch of the Centennial Trail off Northwest Boulevard.

On the other hand, voters wouldn’t go wrong re-electing Reid, a veteran councilwoman who has been instrumental in infrastructure expansion, or Sawicki, a self-made real estate broker who could be a valuable liaison with the business community. Finally, as a dark horse candidate, Darrell Dlouhy impressed us with his ideas. If he doesn’t win this time, we hope he runs again.

There are no wrong choices this year.