COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County voters have elected commissioners for three fire districts.

MICA KIDD ISLAND

The Mica Kidd Island Fire District had two seats up for election.

Incumbent James Smith received 33 percent of the votes and lost his Sub-district 1 seat. Smith, a retired contractor who has lived in the district for 10 years, was appointed to the seat more than a year ago and campaigned on his experience.

He told The Press that he considers himself a fiscal conservative, and that a station and equipment in the south end of the growing district is a need he had hoped to address.

Challenger Mike Arhutik won 67 percent of the votes and captured a decisive win over the incumbent. Arhutik, a retired businessman who has been a resident of the district for more than 25 years and previously served on the board, said he was asked by some residents to return to the position.

Arhutik told The Press that his previous experience would be valuable, and added that his goal is to provide proper equipment for the volunteer firefighting force.

In the race for the Sub-district 2 seat, two candidates squared off for the seat vacated by incumbent J. Kelso Lindsay.

Chris Shelton, who obtained 34 percent of the votes, is the senior project manager for Young Construction Group of Idaho and has lived in the district for 27 years. He told The Press that he believes more planning is needed in the district, and its budget has not kept pace with the needs of volunteers.

Gretchen Hauser earned a commanding victory with 66 percent of the vote. She is an accounting manager for a structural engineering firm who has lived in the district for seven years. Hauser campaigned on her experience as a volunteer on multiple commissions.

She told The Press there has been a loss of trust in the board over the past year, and that the district needs to encourage more volunteers to join and be properly trained.

EAST SIDE

Phillip Noel and Keith Botai were in the race for the East Side Fire District's Sub-district 2 seat.

Noel received 27 percent of the votes, and campaigned on both the time he said he could dedicate to the district and his background in engineering. He told The Press that he has experience dealing with local and state regulatory agencies that would complement the solid leadership he sees in the current board.

Botai received a commanding 73 percent of the vote and is a property maintenance manager for McCathren Management. The alternate fire commissioner and five-year firefighter campaigned on his understanding of what a healthy fire department needs.

He told The Press that his knowledge as a purchasing agent will help ensure the district's facilities and equipment remain up-to-date and within the budget.

SPIRIT LAKE

Spirit Lake's Sub-district 3 seat saw challenger Mike Sexsmith successful in his attempt to unseat Incumbent Chuck Hodge.

Hodge, who owns and operates his own business, obtained 30 percent of the votes and has served as a volunteer firefighter in the district for 13 years. The incumbent campaigned on his experience and told The Press that he wanted to ensure the district continues to move forward in a responsible manner.

Sexsmith, who has lived in the district for six years and spent 30 years in the medical field, obtained 70 percent of the votes. He told The Press that he wants to bring his understanding of the stress and courage involved in being a firefighter to the commission.