Council forums dot Kootenai County

City Council candidates from around Kootenai County will face off at public forums during the next two weeks, and some will be featured speakers at an evening social.

Eleven candidates vying for Coeur d’Alene’s three contested council seats will participate in a forum at 6 p.m. Thursday in City Council chambers, 710 E. Mullan Ave. The event will be broadcast live on cable channel 19 and replayed several times through Nov. 5, a day before Election Day. The forum also will be available next week at www.coeurdaleneidaho.org.

Councilman Al Hassell faces three challengers: Jim Brannon, Jerry Weaver and Chris Patterson. Dan Gookin is running against incumbent Ron Edinger. John Bruning, Susie Snedaker, Joseph Kunka, Wayne Frisbie and Anita Banta are running for council President Dixie Reid’s seat. Reid is not seeking re-election.

Candidates will answer six questions, three of which were taken from citizen suggestions on the city’s Web site. Former Councilman Dave Walker will moderate.

Also in Coeur d’Alene, a candidates’ social open to members of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce and Concerned Businesses of North Idaho will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 23 in the chamber office downtown.

In Post Falls, a City Council candidates’ forum will be at City Hall at 6 p.m. Oct. 15. It will be televised live on the city’s cable channel, where it also will be replayed daily through Nov. 5.

In Rathdrum, City Council candidates will explain their platforms and field questions at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Lakeland High School’s Commons.