Post Falls Will Adjust To Mayor’S Win

After Gus Johnson’s election to the Kootenai County Commission this week, the mayor of Post Falls will cut short his term here.

Some rearranging among the City Council will take place in the next six months. It’s a situation that Post Falls is used to - because it’s happened four times, city clerk Chris Pappas said.

Johnson beat Kevin Krieg, Merlin Berger and Bob Hunt in Tuesday’s primary election. He does not face an opponent in the general election.

Unless Commissioner Dick Compton leaves his position early, Johnson will remain mayor of Post Falls until January, Pappas said.

The four council members must decide which one of them will become mayor. Then, after interviews, the empty council seat will be filled by someone also nominated by the council.

“They’re not filling a term. At the most they will be there a year, at the least - six or seven months,” Pappas said of whoever is chosen to take Johnson’s place.

Next year’s election could bring four new council positions because councilmen Ron Jacobson and Joe Bodman’s terms will expire, in addition to the open mayor position.

City Hall could experience a lot of change, Johnson said, but it will be a smooth transition.

“I think it will be very fluid,” he said. “There’s not one councilman who couldn’t step into that position tomorrow. I don’t think they’ll skip a beat.”

Any new person would be welcomed to City Hall with open arms, Johnson said.

“Now it’s a reality, and the next step is to find out what are we looking for and how (the council) wants to go about filling that slot,” Pappas said.

Three other mayors from Post Falls have left their positions: Kent Helmer and Frank Henderson left to serve as county commissioners, and Jim Hammond left to work as city administrator.