COEUR d'ALENE - Dalton Gardens mayoral candidate Robert Romero says his city shouldn't be looked at as merely a conduit from Coeur d'Alene to Hayden.

The 2.4-square-mile town tucked in at the foot of Canfield Mountain is more than a throughfare, Romero said. It's a community.

A resident of Dalton Gardens since 2002, Romero's run for the mayor's seat is the 47-year-old's first time seeking elected office.

He would like to see some new actions taken to address traffic and speeding vehicles moving through the city, especially along the side roads.

"This is a residential community with very narrow streets. Many, like Davenport and Colfax, are not two lanes wide. It's dangerous for someone on a horse, bicycling or walking when there are drivers on the same streets traveling 35, 40, even 55 mph," Romero said.

Romero, an attorney with the Coeur d'Alene practice of Brown, Justh and Romero, is running against incumbent Dan Franklin and Robert Wright.

A possible solution to the traffic and speeding problem, Romero said, could involve writing a grant for a police car. They could then hire, each on a part-time basis, off-duty law enforcement officers from other agencies to provide service around the clock.

Dalton Gardens, with a population of 2,335, has no police department and relies on the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department for service.

There have been some recent burglaries, Romero said. A dedicated police presence could help deter those kinds of crimes.

"This is a long-standing problem. Lip service is being given to it in the same circles that have been spinning it around for a decade," Romero said. "It's the same group of people who just change seats."

Romero said he served on a citizens traffic committee not long after he moved to Dalton Gardens. The committee worked under a city council member who is still in office, and Romero said many of the issues have never been resolved.

"The thing that got me off the sidelines is the maltreatment of the school," Romero said.

He referred to an ongoing conflict about parking between the city and Dalton Elementary, located along Hanley Avenue, between Mt. Carroll and Davenport streets.

Residents have complained to city officials about parents parking on the streets near the school, and the city has taken measures to see that more parking tickets are issued to the parents.

"If I was a neighbor of the school, I understand that would be annoying, but I think the school needs to be worked with, and getting some dedicated law enforcement out there would help," Romero said.

Deer overpopulation and a need for "common sense ordinances" are Romero's other main concerns.

He said he believes in very limited, small government, and that "the least regulation is the best amount of regulation to make sure everyone's rights are respected."

Romero supports efforts to add sewer service to Dalton Gardens' small commercial zone that runs mainly along Government Way, while ensuring the city is working closely with Panhandle Health District to keep the residential areas on septic systems.

"For the commercial property owners, it's going to be an expense for them, but it will increase the value of their property and expand their business opportunities," Romero said.

It would help push some traffic from the residential areas, he said.

Romero, an attorney since 1996, said he brings real estate and business law experience to the table. He studied finance and economics in college, and while in law school at the University of Idaho in Moscow, he served on that city's board of zoning adjustments. He has worked with Court Appointed Special Advocates for children (CASA) as a legal representative and trainer; a Cub Scout volunteer; and a member of the National Rifle Association.

Romero said he reviewed Dalton Gardens election records, and said there are 1,500 registered voters, yet less than 200 turned out to vote in the last city elections in 2009.

"In the nearly 10 years I've lived here, I've never had a city election candidate come to my door, never seen a sign," Romero said. "I think people need to get involved, to know there is something going on, and if they want to have a voice, they should get out on Nov. 8 and vote."