COEUR d'ALENE - Steve Roberge wants to remain on the Dalton Gardens City Council.

The incumbent candidate in the Nov. 8 election has lived in Dalton Gardens for 21 years, and served on the City Council for 12 of those years.

Roberge, 51, said he always wanted to be involved in the community. As a councilman he said he enjoys helping maintain the quality of life he and other Dalton Gardens residents have long enjoyed.

"My great-grandparents actually settled in Dalton Gardens in the early 1900s," Roberge said. "I have a long family connection here, and deep roots in the community."

Roberge is one of five people vying for two seats up for election on the four-member council.

Roberge, and fellow incumbent Dick Epstein, are being challenged by Gary Hagman, Jeff Dickinson and Scott Jordan.

Dalton Gardens City Council members serve at large, with no dedicated constituency zones. The top two vote-getters on Nov. 8 will take the seats.

Roberge, who is council president, is district manager for Waste Management of Idaho, a position he has held for 19 years. He manages 20 employees.

Roberge said he is proud Dalton Gardens has held onto its rural character.

"It's kind of a special situation there. You've got to have an acre. It's got a special feel to it," he said.

When asked why residents should vote for him, Roberge said they should look at the quality of life in Dalton Gardens and the city's overall health.

"We have low taxes. We have the fifth lowest property tax levy in the state," Roberge said.

Roberge said he has been focusing on speeding on the city's roads and works closely with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department. Dalton Gardens does not have a police or fire department and receives services from the county agencies.

"We want people to be able to ride bikes and horses without feeling like they are going to get run over," he said.

The roads in Dalton Gardens are in good shape, Roberge said. The city works with Lakes Highway District.

He pointed to the bike lanes on Hanley Avenue, Fourth and 15th streets.

"We didn't always have that," Roberge said.

Roberge said the city is moving forward with plans to add sewer service to its commercial zones. Dalton Gardens is working with the city of Coeur d'Alene, he said. Coeur d'Alene will be widening Government Way to five lanes.

"Once we get five lanes all the way through, we're hoping that will transfer traffic over to Government Way," Roberge said.

Regarding the city's relationship with Dalton Elementary, Roberge said the city has been working on resolving traffic problems near the school for nine years.

After many meetings, a side road was created last year to handle some of the traffic, he said.

Roberge is past president of the 200-member Rotary Club of Coeur d'Alene. He is president of the Coeur d'Alene Rotary Endowment Foundation.

He has a degree in business administration from Lewis-Clark State College.

Roberge has been married for 31 years. He has three children and four grandchildren.