COEUR d'ALENE - Last Friday afternoon marked the deadline for most ballot changes for the Nov. 8 city and fire district elections.

The Kootenai County Clerk's Office has announced all the additions and removals voters should expect, which include several candidate drop-outs, two write-in candidates and two new bond measures totaling over $1 million.

Candidate withdrawals include:

* Jim Hollingsworth for Coeur d'Alene City Council

* Susan Myers for Fernan City Council

* Richard Panabaker for Hayden mayor

* Jim Ackerman for Hayden Lake City Council

Write-in Candidates:

* Robert Hecker for Mica Kidd Island Fire District Commissioner, sub district 2 seat

* Chris Shelton for Mica Kidd Island Fire District Commissioner, sub district 2 seat

The city of Worley is also asking for a $750,000 bond measure to replace its sewer collection system, said city staff member Brenda Morris.

"Basically the system is over 50 years old. It has lots of cracks," Morris said. "It just needs a lot of attention."

Voters in precinct 69 are eligible to vote on that bond.

St. Maries Fire District has also placed a $445,000 general obligation bond on the ballot, to refinance its existing indebtedness.

Currently, the fire district is making monthly payments of nearly $3,400 per month for the new firehouse, said Commissioner Thomas DuHamel. The bond would reduce the payment to $2,800 a month, he said, freeing up some funds that the district will use for its primary duties.

"There will be no new taxes under this bond," DuHamel emphasized. "It's similar to refinancing your house. If you've got a 6 percent loan on the house now and can go refinance for 3.75 or 4 percent, it makes sense to do it."

Voters in precincts 68, 70 and 71 can vote for the bond.

No commissioner seats are being contested at fire districts besides Mica Kidd Island, according to the clerk's office. The unchallenged candidates will be declared commissioners without standing for election.

The deadline for city write-in candidates to file is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Hollingsworth had announced his drop-out earlier, explaining that after discussions with friends he determined his running could do more harm than good.

Panabaker dropped out of the Hayden mayor race to support Mayor Ron McIntire's run for re-election.

Myers, who has served on the Fernan City Council for 12 years, stated it was time to step down and that she does not plan to run again.

"I was hoping that someone else in our wonderfully small city would want to take my position, to learn about our city and how it works," the Kootenai County native wrote in an email. "When Heidi Acuff stepped up, I was happy to withdraw my candidacy and give Heidi my full support."

It's important that many residents have a chance to serve and learn how their local governing bodies work, Myers wrote.

"Especially in a city as small as Fernan," she added.