Goodlander seeking third council term

Coeur d’Alene City Councilwoman Deanne Goodlander wants to protect the town’s open spaces while encouraging people to move to the area, she said Wednesday at her re-election campaign kickoff.

Goodlander, a Coeur d’Alene native who has been on the council for eight years, is seeking a third term in the November election.

“Planning is the most important thing we need to do as a city,” Goodlander said, standing at the base of Tubbs Hill’s west trailhead surrounded by about 45 supporters.

She said the key is encouraging a mix of people and development while protecting treasures such as Tubbs Hill, the waterfront natural park that her father helped secure.

Goodlander said she has the vision and experience to help the city create an active and vibrant downtown and keep residents happy with the city.

Planning for the influx of new residents is crucial, she said, calling Coeur d’Alene’s growth “extreme.”

The city’s population has increased by 13,665 people in the last four years, according to the U.S. Census.

Goodlander said Coeur d’Alene is managed better than most Idaho cities because all the department heads make decisions as an executive team, a change that happened when Goodlander was first elected to office. She said the new management style has allowed the city to use residents’ tax dollars more wisely and promotes better communication.

She said that executive team system needs to remain.

Goodlander also supports the building of a new downtown library and the city’s various trail projects.

Goodlander so far is running unopposed.

The city council voted in September to switch to designated council seats, ending the “horse-race” system.

This is the first time candidates will chose which of the six seats they want to seek.

Previously all council members and challengers ran against each other for vacant seats and the top vote-getters got the open positions.

Goodlander said she likes the new system because it forces candidates to run on their own merits.

“If you don’t like what I do, run against me,” Goodlander said.

In addition to Goodlander, councilmen Woody McEvers’ and Ben Wolfinger’s seats are up for election.

Wolfinger has said he won’t seek re-election.