COEUR d'ALENE - It's not the first time Scott Jordan has run for Dalton Gardens City Council.

Jordan, 57, a lifelong resident of the city tucked between Hayden and Coeur d'Alene, hopes his third election race will end in a win.

He said he lost by seven votes once, and nine votes the other time.

Jordan, an electrical contractor, would like the public to be more informed and more involved in tackling issues facing the city.

"Communication, that's the most important thing," Jordan said.

There are five people vying for two seats up for election on Dalton Gardens' four-member council. The top two vote-getters will win the seats.

Jordan, Gary Hagman, Jeff Dickinson and incumbents Steve Roberge and Dick Epstein are in the race.

Jordan said he hears city officials say residents rarely turn out for council meetings.

"Why come to the meetings if no one listens to you?" he said. "Nobody is going to make everybody happy ... but we, as a council, can let them know we are listening to their concerns."

He thinks he is a good choice for voters because he knows he will listen, and he has watched the city grow

He said his parents bought 77 acres of land at the base of Canfield Mountain back in the '50s. Jordan bought his own first acre in 1982, nine years after he graduated from high school.

"I was born and raised here. I've seen a big change. There are only so many acres left to be built in Dalton, so Dalton can only grow so much larger," Jordan said.

Although things in Dalton Gardens are modernized, with homes people take pride in, Jordan said he wants to see the city maintain its rural atmosphere.

He said he opposes passing new ordinances and to deal with some issues, like the deer population.

Rather than outlawing the feeding of deer, Jordan suggests a community effort to help people understand why they shouldn't provide food for the animals.

"You can ask your neighbors to stop feeding them," Jordan said.

He said he has also heard talk of allowing a limited bow hunt, which he opposes, mainly because it will lead to trespassing.

"I was born and raised in Dalton, and I've learned deer are something you have to live with. I've had them eat my bushes. I don't like them either, but you let people put up fences," Jordan said. "That's what it takes to keep the deer out."

Jordan said he doesn't think the government should be involved in everything that happens in the city. He said he favors allowing neighbors the chance to work out their differences before creating laws and fining people.

He is supportive of the city's plan to extend sewer service to its commercial zone, provided it is done with careful consideration of all the involved parties' cares and concerns.

Regarding the problem of drivers speeding through the city, Jordan said he thinks more sheriff's department patrols on Dalton Gardens' side streets might help.

The city's relationship with the sheriff's department is a good one, Jordan said. He supports continuing to have the Kootenai County Sheriffs Department provide law enforcement, rather than incur the cost to provide their own police coverage.

He is aware there have been several burglaries recently in Dalton Gardens. Again, he said he thinks communication and community involvement would help.

"What about a neighborhood block watch?" Jordan said.

Jordan offered a possible solution to the parking and traffic problem he said still exists at Dalton Elementary School, despite the creation of a side road to handle some of the volume. Jordan suggests they consider allowing parking near the school for 45 minutes before classes begin, and again at the end of the school day.

"These are just ideas. That's what we need from the people, ideas. That's what I'm doing here," Jordan said.