Why did your paper have to discredit Mary Souza on Dec. 7 as she enters the Idaho Legislature as our new 4th District Senator from Ceour d’Alene? Mary lost the election for the mayor in 2013 in a barrage of negative ads and statements in the Coeur d’Alene Press.

Mary is a great, kind, gentle and honorable person. She accepted defeat and offered the new Mayor Steve Widmyer her hand in helping him in his new elected position as the new mayor. In November 2013, Mayor Sandi Bloem, Mike Kennedy and Deana Goodlander and Woody were also up for their city election in 2014 for there seats on the City Council following their May council vote on the $20 million McEuen vote in May of the meeting at Woodland Middle School where they all said, “I am voting for the $20 million McEuen project and if it cost me my next election, ‘So Be It.’” They all said at the public meeting that they would run for re-election in 2014.

They voted for this project that evening, at the public meeting, even when they heard the voices of the voters of Coeur d’Alene say “No” at three or four public meetings on this issue.

Well guess what? When it was time to sign up for the May 2014 Primary, Mayor Bloem, Kennedy and Goodlander “chickened out” and decided they didn’t want to face the voters and stand up for what they voted for, a $20 million+ McEuen Park that the people said no. They all backtracked except Woody, and gave excuses why they wouldn’t run for their re-election prior to the primary in May 2014.

Woody was the only council member who stood up for his opinion at that May meeting and he also said if he was defeated because of his vote, “So Be It.” I’m proud of people who take a position on a stand and believe that their decisions are right. Woody, “I’m Proud of you” for standing up for what you believed in and stood for your re-election and “Won.”

Mary Souza will do a good job as our elected Senator from the 4th District here in Coeur d’Alene. Let’s give her the “Benefit of doubt” and give her all our support. She won her election as State Senator on a 2 to 1 vote. Doesn’t that tell her voters that she is our elected leader and will also represent the City Council and Mayor while in Boise?

LES WIGEN

Coeur d’Alene