WOLFE: Best man for the job

Alan Wolfe for Post Falls City Council. I recently had a discussion with a US Senator concerning the desired attributes of local elected officials. That discussion resulted in characteristics like Dedicated, Knowledgeable, Honest, Passionate, Caring, Respected, Fair, Ethical, Trustworthy, Driven, and a few more that I can't remember at this time.

What I can remember is that I left that discussion thinking how lucky the citizens of Post Falls are in that they have such a man running for City Council. That man is Alan Wolfe. I have known Alan Wolfe for many years. My profession requires me to work with elected officials across the country. I meet many councilmen, administrators, and mayors. I can tell you I have never met anyone who cares more about their community, than Alan Wolfe.

Just because he is the best man for the job does not mean he will be elected. This election is only days away. Please take the time to listen to Alan's message. Make the effort to compare the candidates. Sift through the politics and hearsay and you will soon understand that Alan Wolfe is far and away the best candidate for the position of City Council.

Alan will not win this election without your support. Without you making the extra effort to check his name on the ballot the most qualified candidate will not win. Citizens of Post Falls, your vote does count. Get out and vote. You will be glad you did.

ED SANTOS

Dalton Gardens

WIDMYER: Truly a lifesaver

In the spring of 1979, one of the tennis players on my North Idaho College tennis team was Geoff Mould, a close friend of Steve Widmyer. They had attended Coeur d'Alene High School together before attending NIC.

Steve came to watch Mould's home tennis matches. One Saturday I invited them to go water rafting with me on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. It was early spring and the water was high with rapid flowing currents. As we came around a curve, we spotted several trees that had fallen into the river over the winter. The current was so swift that it drove our raft directly into the trees and held the raft against the trees.

Geoff and I were thrown from the raft and I was pulled underneath the trees and trapped while Geoff was fighting the rapids trying to get back into the raft. The force of the water not only pinned me under the trees but emptied my pockets and I lost my eye glasses. I simply was trapped underneath the trees and unable to get out. But Steve reached over the raft and spotted one of my arms. He tightly grabbed on to my arm with both hands and pulled me from under the trees and into the raft.

I have often thought about the rescue and know that I could not have escaped the trap without Steve's quick action and strong hands. I have often thanked him for getting me out of a deadly situation more than 30 years ago.

TONY STEWART

Coeur d'Alene

JACOBSON: All the tools to lead

The City of Post Falls continues to be positioned as the future of Kootenai County's success as there is considerable land mass that has yet to be developed within its boundaries. The public policy, planning and direction of the community will require strong and competent leadership that will ensure the appropriate balance between land uses as well as an aggressive stance to help recruit further manufacturing and industry. In my opinion, there is only one person who can help provide this level of executive leadership as Post Falls' next mayor and that individual is Ron Jacobson.

I have had the ability to know and work with Ron Jacobson for the past seven years. He has consistently approached his job as an elected official with a keen balance between listening to the needs of the community while at the same time skillfully applying his business insight to the management of the community. Ron has had the opportunity several times to stand in the place of the mayor and in each of these instances he represented the community very well and showed the leadership necessary to help keep the community moving forward.

In today's complex world, we need to be assured that we have the right people in leadership that will be able to carry us forward with competence and executive prowess. Ron Jacobson is that person and I would urge you to vote for Ron as the next mayor of Post Falls.

ERIC KECK

Post Falls

THORESON: Has energy, devotion

I am writing this letter in support of Kerri Thoreson as the next mayor of Post Falls.

Everyone who knows Kerri will agree she not only cares about this town, but also the people who call it home. Her boundless energy and devotion shows in the countless ways she "pays it forward" while going about her daily life. The events she attends give her a unique learning opportunity to garner insight and tools she needs to make sensible decisions. She watches, she listens, she asks questions. She does her homework.

I have watched Kerri grow in business while working with her when she was publisher/editor of the Post Falls Tribune. Her role as executive director of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce further enhanced her business knowledge.

Kerri has experience with tourism grant management, marketing, budget projections and communication, all of which are essential in the growth and stability of a city. She is also a loud voice for the small business owner. She believes they are an integral part of a thriving community. Kerri has also been blessed with good common sense, a quality she uses in every decision she makes. She has proven herself worthy as an elected councilor of our city.

If you mix the business leader together with the community leader, it is a win-win situation. Join me in voting on Nov. 5 for Kerri Thoreson as your next mayor.

JEANNIE PEUGH

Post Falls

VOTE: Souza tops slate of advocates

After our last city election, the headline was "McEuen Critics Cruise to Easy Victories in Cd'A." The message was clear, yet the mayor and her three council supporters, elected in a previous election, insisted they had been given a "mandate" to make the "tough decisions" which we, the voters, were not qualified to make. With the jaw-dropping arrogance of politicians who have been in office too long, they continued to deny a public advisory vote.

Mary Souza believes that government follows the will of the people. A steadfast public advocate for taxpayers and citizens of our city, she is a woman of integrity, unafraid to ask tough questions in the name of fairness, efficiency and accountability. Mayor Bloem, et al, have dismissively labeled dissent as negative and uninformed. Mary Souza feels that we have been pouring most of our resources into the downtown and should shift our focus to the outlying areas. She has objected to the misuse of LCDC tax dollars to fund projects having nothing to do with "blight and deterioration," the original intent of such monies.

Steve Widmyer is endorsed by Balance North Idaho, a group largely composed of people who backed Mayor Bloem's hard line stance against a public advisory vote. His previous civic involvement was marginal enough that few have heard of him until now. He is a businessman who is invested heavily in local real estate. Mr. Widmyer's downtown office is a stone's throw from McEuen Park.

A vote for Mary Souza is a vote for a government that is responsive to the public.

A vote for Steve Widmyer is a vote for more special interest government.

There are three candidates for City Council who share Mary Souza's views on public service: Noel Adam, Chris Fillios, and Sharon Hebert. Vote for real change!

KAREN LAWSON

Coeur d'Alene

EVANS: A smart problem-solver

I have read letters to the editor about laundry lists of horrible things in our town, and I hear political agendas that include the need for sweeping changes in our community, and I wonder: Why do the authors of these complaints choose to live here?

I appreciate people who question the direction of our community, people who love Coeur d'Alene and are willing to work hard to help make our town an even better place to live. Amy Evans is one of those people. She is a longtime, invested member of our community. Amy helped fend off the closure of Sorensen School and was instrumental in creating the vibrant place it is today. She helped raise over $50,000 for cancer research with a meticulously planned event. She has participated in Vision 2030... and she is eager to serve on our City Council.

Amy is smart, passionate, a problem solver who is willing to work persistently to do what is best for our community. She will listen, and she will be decisive.

Join me and VOTE on Nov. 5 for Amy Evans, to help our wonderful community get even better.

DAVID GROTH

Coeur d'Alene

WIDMYER: Best for unifying city

Steve Widmyer is my choice for mayor. Just as I was concerned about the direction of our local school board, it is these same views that concern me about the future of our city. Other candidates for mayor have relationships that are too close and cozy with views that I consider too far right for City Hall.

We have seen the damage that can be done when we have views that only represent a small segment of our area. Last spring, we saw embarrassing statements made by government officials that reflected poorly on our area. We came to the brink of changing how we pay teachers for their hard work. We almost saw a mass exodus of quality, experienced teachers because the competitive market was starting to offer better options elsewhere. As a result, we saw the highest school board election turnout ever because our citizens began to realize that aggressive partisan agendas have no place in nonpartisan local government leadership.

If you were concerned about our schools last spring, you should be more concerned this fall for our city. The same folks from last spring are involved with the same tired ideas. I believe we need to move past the divisiveness of gotcha politics and look toward our future. I'm doing my part by voting Steve Widmyer for mayor. I hope you will join me.

TOLLI WILLHITE

Coeur d'Alene

ELECTION: Don't go backward, Cd'A

When Mary Souza and her slate of Tea Party Republicans say they want to "take back the city government" - they aren't kidding. They really want to take it back...as in backwards. No growth, no development, no spending (unless of course, it's spending for unnecessary elections so citizens can vote on every decision that comes before the city council, or it's a Souza pet project). We don't need our city government "taken back." This community needs to keep the momentum moving with positive thinkers and doers who will keep Coeur d'Alene moving FORWARD.

I support Steve Widmyer, Kiki Miller, Amy Evans, and Woody McEvers - leaders who will lead - and not take us backward. I encourage you to vote for these people on November 5th.

CANDACE GODWIN

Coeur d'Alene

THORESON: Has pulse of Post Falls

I ask you to join me in voting for Kerri Thoreson for our next mayor of Post Falls. I'm proud to endorse Kerri and feel she is the best candidate for the position. I feel I speak for a large part of our community in that I'm one of the "working stiffs," living and doing business in Post Falls.

Kerri's voice for the people, her strong community involvement and support, and her dedication to the success of our community sets her ahead of the rest. Everywhere I look, I see Kerri involved with a project or an organization. Her finger on the pulse of the community we live in qualifies her to make the best choices for the people she would represent, and in fact has helped to represent in her years on the city council. She is accessible and responsive to the citizens and I'm sure will be the same in the mayor's office.

Knowing what it takes to survive and thrive in this community will empower Kerri to seek needed businesses and jobs; keeping mindful that while attracting industry and manufacturing is important, she will continue to recognize the contributions that small businesses make in Post Falls.

Her passion for doing "the work of the people" ranks her first among her peers. Her agenda truly speaks for her constituents and we couldn't ask for a better candidate.

WILLI BUERGE

Post Falls