COEUR d'ALENE - After serving eight years as mayor of Dalton Gardens, Dan Franklin hopes voters decide to let him do it for four more years.

Before becoming mayor, Franklin, 53, served on Dalton Gardens City Council for two eight-year terms.

He is being challenged in the Nov. 8 election by Robert Romero and Robert Wright.

"When you talk to folks who live in Dalton Gardens, or have lived in Dalton Gardens, their eyes light up. They love the small-town feel of it. They love the one-acre parcels. They love the fact that we can still talk over the fence to each other," Franklin said.

A city resident for 28 years, Franklin said it's important that they maintain Dalton Gardens' rural atmosphere, and the sense of belonging its residents have.

"That's what draws me to want to be active in the community, the people of Dalton Gardens," he said. "I'm passionate about where I live."

He said he also has a passion, and a commitment, to serve others and listen to them.

Franklin, a trauma nurse working in the emergency room at Kootenai Medical Center, said that prior to 9-11 he spent years working in "corporate America," so he understands business.

"I understand this economy and I understand the problems that face people," Franklin said.

Working with involved citizens and other elected officials, Franklin said, they have done good things to move Dalton Gardens forward.

They have developed and maintained good relationships with the sheriff's department, the county and Dalton Gardens' neighboring cities of Hayden and Coeur d'Alene, Franklin said.

"We've increased our revenues 225 percent in eight years," he said.

When he first took office, Franklin said the specter of having to increase the property tax levy rate hung over the city, but they were able to avoid that, and have been able to maintain one of the lowest tax levy rates in Idaho.

"Through good, conservative fiscal budgeting, we have been able to save," he said.

Franklin said the city is now able to complete projects without having to increase taxes, and they have completed some major projects in that time.

They are in the process of planning a large project right now, extending sewer service to the city's commercial zone. That will probably take place next year, Franklin said.

"We've tried to work with the business owners and create a plan, create ordinances that work for them," he said.

Dalton Gardens land is expensive, Franklin said. They want commercial land owners to be able to use their property at its highest potential.

"We're trying to walk down that road carefully, to make sure their businesses are able to succeed," Franklin said.

The city's residential areas will remain on septic systems. Dalton Gardens works closely with Panhandle Health District to maintain that status, he said.

Regarding the city's relationship with Dalton Elementary and traffic problems near the school, Franklin said he thinks school staff have done a good job working with the city to resolve what was a major public safety issue.

"We're obligated as a city to maintain the health and welfare of our citizens," Franklin said. "I think we did a good job with the school resolving the issue."

Franklin said his four sons attended Dalton Elementary; he thinks highly of the school, and is glad it's in the community.

The city is working with Idaho Fish and Game to find some solutions to deer overpopulation in the city, he said.

He knows it's a serious problem, and understands that often, residents are losing produce from their gardens to hungry deer.

The city's fence ordinance was changed about a year ago, Franklin said, to allow people to protect their property from the animals.

He has been married for 30 years, serves on the North Idaho College Alumni Board, and has volunteered in Boy Scouts and 4-H.

"I would encourage all our citizens, and my opponents, to come to at least one meeting to see how hard we work for them," Franklin said.