RATHDRUM - Vic Holmes on Tuesday became one of the few Rathdrum mayors in the past 30 years to make it to a second term.

Holmes, owner of Eagle Garage Doors, defeated challenger Kevin Randles, owner of Dashco convenience plaza, 478-285.

Holmes said he thought the race would have been closer.

"(Randles) ran a very good campaign. He outspent me by quite a bit and he was able to mobilize a lot of troops," Holmes said.

Holmes said despite a poor economy, the city did well under his leadership. He believes that made a difference in being re-elected.

"I felt my record would hold up," he said. "It never hurts to have a good record. We've accomplished a lot of good things in Rathdrum."

He said that despite new growth, Rathdrum employs one fewer full-time employee than it did four years ago. And even though the city is allowed to take a 3 percent property tax increase each year, it's taken only 5.8 percent total over the past five years. It has a lot of property zoned commercial and industrial to pave the way for growth when the economy turns, he said.

James Parker and Tawnda Bromley are among the few mayors in recent memory to serve more than one term. Parker, who served in the early '80s, was the last mayor to serve two full terms.

Randles said he ran because he believed he could help streamline the process for receiving permits, which would expedite building activity in town, add to the tax base and create jobs.

Holmes said both he and Randles pounded the pavement hard during their campaigns.

"I have blisters and I'm exhausted," Holmes said.

In the race for council Seat 4, incumbent Debbie Holmes defeated write-in challenger Len Newton 632-67.

In other contested races and bond votes in Kootenai County:

* Fernan Village - Heidi Acuff and Peter Job were elected to the city council;

* Harrison - Ron Elliott, Jeff Hall and Russell Riberich were elected to the city council;

* Spirit Lake - Gary Ventress and Diane Berg were elected to four-year city council seats;

* Worley sewer bond - A $750,000 bond measure to replace the city's sewer collection system passed with 93 percent approval (simple majority was needed for the bond to pass).

* St. Maries Fire bond - The $445,000 general obligation bond to refinance its existing indebtedness passed with 96 percent approval (simple majority was needed for the bond to pass). It will not increase taxes, district officials say.