Candidates offer CdA voters slate of choices

Coeur d’Alene City Council members Deanna Goodlander and Woody McEvers will have challengers in the Nov. 8 election.

That means all the city’s races are contested, giving voters more choices than in recent elections.

Candidates for city races all across Idaho had until 5 p.m. Friday to officially file.

In Coeur d’Alene, former planning commissioner Susie Snedaker is challenging Goodlander, and political newcomer Steven Foxx is vying for McEvers’ seat.

Councilman Ben Wolfinger opted not to run for re-election, and three people are vying for his seat – local businessman Mike Kennedy, city planning commission member Mary Souza and former city employee Dan Yake.

Political newcomer Joseph Kunka, a marketing representative for the local security company Watson Agency, is challenging Mayor Sandi Bloem.

This will be the first election in Coeur d’Alene since the city changed how council members are elected. Previously, all candidates ran together in a “horse race” for vacant seats, and the top vote-getters won the open positions. Now, candidates run for designated seats.

City Clerk Susan Weathers said the new system allows people to directly challenge an incumbent instead of having to run against the entire pack. She said the idea is to level the playing field and allow candidates to square off about specific city issues rather than touting their civic qualifications.

Post Falls

Post Falls also has one hotly contested race.

Jackie McAvoy and Joe Doellefeld are challenging incumbent Councilman Joe Bodman.

Mayor Clay Larkin and Councilman Ron Jacobson are both running unopposed.

Larkin said he doesn’t know why three people are vying for Bodman’s seat while the other races are uncontested. But he noted that McAvoy and Doellefeld are both former council members.

“Perhaps they enjoyed the time they served,” Larkin said, “and want to get back on.”

Other North Idaho races

In Hayden, council members Jeri Delange and Anson Gable are running unopposed.

Two council seats are open in Rathdrum. Councilmen Jesse Ojala and Dan Tesulov are running against challengers Kenneth Hayes, Fred Meckel, Carmon O’Donnell and Kevin Randles.

Spirit Lake Mayor Roxy Martin has three challengers – Councilman Joe Keene, Monty Bullock and Gordon Durham. There are also two council seats open. Councilman Gary Ventress is running against Steve Gaddum, Bill Erickson and Amanda Henderson.

Here’s a look at other North Idaho city seats on the November ballot:

“Athol: Mark Dane is challenging Councilman Daniel Holmes.

“Dalton Gardens: Two council seats are open. Former mayor and former councilman Ron Koontz, planning and zoning chairman Joe Myers, and incumbent Jim Howard are running for those positions.

“Harrison: Mayor Ron JeanBlanc is running for re-election against Josephine Prophet. Three council seats are being vied for by Valerie Harris, William Butler, Mark Wagner, Linda Brownson and incumbent Terry Oliver.

“Hayden Lake: In a rarity, the entire council and the mayor are up for re-election, but there are no challengers.

“Sandpoint: Three council seats are on the ballot. Former city Clerk Helen Newton is running, as are Councilman Francis Ogilvie, Councilwoman Cindy Elliot and Steve Lockwood. Councilwoman Alison Burgstahler isn’t seeking re-election.

“Dover: Two seats are open. Councilwoman Maggie Becker and Louis Collins are seeking those seats. Councilman Neil Hewitt isn’t seeking re-election.

“Clark Fork: Incumbents Brian Lee Cantrell and Marleen Syth are running for council seats against James Junget and Russell Schenck, a former council member. Mayor Thomas Shields is being challenged by Councilwoman Linda Reed.

“Ponderay: Two council seats are open. Councilman Steve Geiger is vying against Marc Woller and Larry Hanna.

“Kellogg: Four council seats are open. Councilman Ken Schueman is competing against Eileen Wilhelm. Former Councilman Todd Goodson is challenging Councilman Neil McAvoy. Dawn Dixon, Aldene “Chuckie” Bourgard, Mark Aamodt and Joan Block are running to replace Dana Musick, who resigned.

“Wallace: Mayor Ronald Garitone is running for re-election against Gerry Waters. Councilwoman Virginia Mattern isn’t seeking re-election. Ted Pettis and former council member John Hansen are running for her seat.

“St. Maries: Three council seats are open. Councilman Jerry Wicks is running, as is Richard Griffin.

“Plummer: Mayor Carl Richel is being challenged by Councilman Michael Meagher. No one has filed for the vacant two-year council seat.