COEUR d'ALENE - Amy Evans said she isn't running an issues-based campaign. She is running because she is passionate about Coeur d'Alene, and she doesn't see any benefit to dwelling in the past.

"I think we have some great years ahead of us, and it is imperative to me that we keep moving forward in a responsible way that gets the community united back together," she said.

"This is a decision I did not make lightly. There were many, many discussions, especially in our household, that took place."

Ultimately, she said, she decided to run because she has a unique skill set that she is bringing to the table. Among those skills is the ability to bring people with diverse backgrounds together to work toward a common goal.

"I've been told that I am a uniter," Evans said. "I've done major fundraisers and I have been very involved in the 'Save Sorensen School' effort. So, my vision is to bring that to the table."

The Idaho native, who grew up in Lewiston and went to Idaho State University for five years, has served six years on Coeur d'Alene's Planning and Zoning Commission.

She led the effort to save Sorensen Elementary School by helping raise the funds necessary to fix the ADA compliance issues with that building and convert it to a magnet school.

Evans has also worked as a volunteer for the Coeur d'Alene Ironman race. She has competed in Ironman and finished the race twice.

Her inaugural Wine, Women and Shoes event raised $100,000 in just one evening for Idaho Youth Ranch, where she works full time as the development director.

She helped to organize the Coeur d'Alene Cancer Challenge and is the founding president of the Coeur d'Alene Education Partnership.

"I am used to working with a lot of diverse people and groups," she said.

As for the issues, she says what is done, is done. Evans is looking to the future and will seek out ways to unify the community rather than divide it further.

"McEuen is done. It is going to be here, and it is going to get done," she said. "It's going to be a wonderful gathering place for the community. I hope that in the future the community can come together and work to compromise on issues like these without them becoming so polarized."

Evans supports the anti-discrimination ordinance.

"We live in a city of excellence," she said. "In our city everyone deserves to be treated equal. I would hate to alienate visitors or members of our community from feeling welcome or loved in the town they visit."

She is also a strong supporter of urban renewal.

"Urban renewal is a tool that was given to us by a very conservative legislature to help us boost our economy and to create jobs," Evans said. "If the tool we use isn't Lake City Development Corp., then we need to have another tool to do the same thing."

But, she said, LCDC has done some great things for Coeur d'Alene, and having a tool like that in our community is important to her.

"For instance, the Kroc Center, which employs 300 people. The US Bank Call Center also employs hundreds of people," she said. "For myself, I am a fiscal conservative, so I would look at their dollars and make sure they are being spent wisely."

She said she will take a conservative approach on all city spending.

"I think everything should be researched and evaluated carefully," Evans said. "It is important that I know where my tax dollars are being spent."

Evans agrees with her opponent, and most of the other candidates running, on the city salaries issue. She said that a number of department heads are retiring and that should help the bottom line, but the city may also need to look at streamlining its operations.

"It's a great time to look at options and opportunities to consolidate some of those positions," she said. "You know, can we identify some options there? And, if so, we should by all means do so."

If elected, Evans said, she would focus on job creation as well. She wants to make sure her children have an opportunity to find a job and stay in Coeur d'Alene after they are grown.

Overall, Evans wants to move the city forward in a positive direction and begin the process of pulling the divided community together again.

"So many positive things have happened in Coeur d'Alene over the last 15 years," she said. "I just want to see that continue."