PONDERAY — North Idaho's "Little City With a Big Future" will host Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and company as Capital for a Day next week.

Each month, Otter brings state government to Idahoans living outside Boise by making a different town in Idaho the state’s Capital for a Day. The meetings provide local residents an opportunity to have open discussions about government issues and public policy with Otter, members of his Cabinet and other senior state officials.

"We are honored to host this event," said Ponderay Mayor Steve Geiger. "We appreciate them reaching out and doing these types of events in our state, and it's kind of neat to see them reaching out to the smaller cities."

City officials can choose six Cabinet members they would like to see represented during the event, and state officials do their best to oblige, Geiger said. According to a statement from Otter's office, the state officials joining Otter and First Lady Lori Otter in Ponderay include Lt. Gov. Brad Little, Department of Commerce Director Megan Ronk, Department of Correction Director Henry Atencio, Department of Fish and Game Director Virgil Moore, Department of Lands Director Tom Schultz, Deputy Director Jess Byrne from the Department of Environmental Quality; Jim Coleman, District 1 representative on the Idaho Transportation Board, and Bill Booth of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Health and Welfare also will have regional officials on hand to take questions.

"Productive and accessible forests, excellent hunting and fishing, safe and efficient roadways and a thriving economy are all near the top of the priority list for folks in northern Idaho, as they are throughout our state," Otter said in the statement. "My Cabinet members and I are eager to hear from Ponderay and Bonner County residents about their specific local public policy issues, ideas and concerns. We’ll be ready to listen and answer their questions. Come out and join us."

In a small town hall-style setting, the Capital for a Day event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Holiday Inn Express, 477326 Highway 95, Ponderay. City officials are sponsoring a first-come, first-served luncheon at the same location.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.