Christa Speaks …

Originally posted at 10:24 p.m. Tuesday

Earlier today, Christa Hazel holds sign in front of Canfield Middle School, urging Coeur d’Alene School District voters in Zone 1 to support her candidacy for trustee. They did, as Christa unseated appointed Trustee Brent Regan handily, leading a sweep of Balance North Idaho candidates into office to form a new majority of the School Board. (Photo: Duane Rasmussen)

• Huckleberries: The people have done what the Coeur d’Alene school trustees and Kootenai County commissioners refused to do — vote you into office. How does that feel?
• Christa Hazel: I really felt good in going before the voters because I never got a far shot in front of the trustees or the Kootenai County commissioners. Who deferred to the trustees.
• Huckleberries: When do you take office?
• Hazel : July 1.
• Huckleberries : What’s number one on your agenda?
• Hazel: We need to discuss a new board chair.
• Huckleberries: You face a tough challenge in dealing with a budget with a $3M deficit, don’t you?
• Hazel: We’ll get through that. We’ll take our time and study all aspects.
• Huckleberries: What happened tonight?
• Hazel: We showed that you need to have more than a political club and party affiliation when you’re working for these nonpartisan offices. And you have transparent motives. There were times when it was confusing when you looked at this board. Also, you need to be responsive to the public you serve.
• Huckleberries: Final thought?
• Hazel: We needed a win. We just needed a win. We finally figured out that you have to put up a good political fight to beat these guys (Reagan Republican endorsees). There candidates have been able to skip debates and win by simply going to political club luncheons. Coeur d’Alene took a stand tonight.