Richard Whitehead

Age: 58

Length of residency: Four years in Post Falls, seven years in Kootenai County

Family: Married with three children and four grandchildren

Highest degree held: BAAS in public administration and criminal justice

Degrees held: Certified public manager; graduate of FBI National Academy; graduate of Leadership and Command College of Texas; National Incident Command System Instructor

Profession: Retired. 33-plus years in law enforcement/public safety, 20 years of that in leadership, including CEO of a countywide 911 system. Owner of Richard Whitehead & Associates LLC, an international public safety training and consulting firm, since 1995.

Civic/community service: Fomer member of Kiwanis and board member for the Travis County Employees Credit Union.

Volunteerism: Church. Previously regional representative for the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas; previously president and board member of the Travis County Sheriff’s Officers Association. Previous political experience: Extensive interaction, contract bargaining, etc. through the above listed board positions and as CEO of a 911 agency.

What prompted you to seek election to this position?

Upon retirement from public service in 2011, I focused on my firm. I now have it in a position to enable me to give back to the community in which I live and love. City council is a natural fit for my experience and skill set.

What are three things you will work to change or improve if elected?

Ensure our anticipated growth is done intelligently and methodically to avoid the problems that I’ve witnessed firsthand elsewhere. Ensure our public safety services are maintained at optimal levels.

Ensure we do not overburden our citizens with regulation or taxes.

What makes you the best candidate?

My experience includes: managing multimillion dollar budgets; negotiating benefit and compensation contracts; leading hundreds of personnel; chaired multi-jurisdictional committees, solving regional issues; experienced and worked through the challenges of explosive growth; planned and/or directed responses to large scale events, either planned or natural disasters; build and deliver customized training packages; certified public safety policy; servant leader; approachable.