City Council Election Buzz

I kept my ear to the ground last night re: possible Coeur d’Alene City Council races this fall. In terms of incumbents, rumor has it that Al Hassell is 99% sure he isn’t going to run. Al told me all but that when I encountered his wife and him at Regal Cinemas a few months ago. Ron Edinger recently underwent surgery for a stomach problem — and may not be healthy enough to seek re-election. I chatted with John Bruning for awhile. He seems up to the challenge. The best guess at possible opponents at this time includes: Dan Gookin (although he said after his narrow 2009 loss to Deanna Goodlander that he wouldn’t run again), Steve Adams (a staunch conservative who lost to Woody McEvers in 2009), and Rita Sims-Snyder, who has been leading the opposition to proposed McEuen Field changes.

Question: Will Coeur d’Alene City Council incumbents survive 2011 challenges?