RATHDRUM - Vic Holmes wants to be the answer to the question, "who was the last Rathdrum mayor to serve two full terms?"

The mayor of Rathdrum announced he plans to seek another four years to lead the North Idaho city.

"I know the office is not mine to lose," he wrote. "It belongs to you, the citizens of Rathdrum. There, I am asking for your support in my effort to service a second term."

Holmes, in a press release, said despite a poor national and state economy the city did well under his leadership. He noted 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 over the past five years.

Rathdrum is continuing to work on the new 11-acre Majestic Park that will include softball fields and splash park.

"Creative planning and budgeting, along with civic partnerships, allowed our parks to be supplied with new playground equipment and buildings," the 56-year-old wrote.

He noted that just as he pledged four years ago, Pine Grove Cemetery has a new look with the addition of irrigation, a new fence and flags.

He pointed out the city's water and sewer systems work well, and its infrastructure is solid.

"The rest of the public works department, the planners, engineers and inspectors have all worked hard to keep a balance between the small town feeling we all want for Rathdrum and the pressures of growth," Holmes wrote.

He said he has also been successful in improving transportation funding.

"Through my position on the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization I successfully argued to move $2.9 million in federal dollars to the Highway 41/53 overpass with the funding balance coming from the state," he wrote.

The overpass will provide a four-lane bridge with pathways on both sides improving the connectivity of the city, Holmes said.

Financially, the city is in solid shape, he said, with little debt. It increased the rainy day fund balance each year of his first term.

"Rathdrum has $7 million of new growth this last fiscal year," he said.

Holmes said other projects under way in Rathdrum include the Kootenai Technical Education Campus, the STAR science Center, STEM, a charter school and a new fire station.

"My degree of involvement on these projects varies from fully involved to being smart enough to just stay out of the way," he wrote. "During my first term, we have created a climate for good things to happen here, and they are. Rathdrum has found a voice and identity."

Holmes, who also served four years as a City Council member and seven years on KMPO, has lived in Rathdrum 25 years with his wife, Karen.

He believes his record, experience and consistency show he should be re-elected as Rathdrum's mayor.

"I have proven that I can and will put in the time required to do the job, and do it right," he wrote. "I have no other agenda other than to continue to help make Rathdrum a great place to work and live."