Ponderay gets new council member
Mary Malone Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 3 months AGO
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Brenda Thompson, right, was sworn in by Ponderay City Clerk Su Warren, left, Monday as the newest City Council member. Thompson took over the seat of Councilman Rick Larkin, who recently moved outside the city.
PONDERAY — With upcoming City Council elections, one open seat in Ponderay was filled Monday as Mayor Steve Geiger appointed Brenda Thompson to council.
Thompson took over the seat of Rick Larkin, who stepped down after moving outside the city. She will finish out the last two years of his term. Larkin also served as council president. City Clerk Su Warren said they will wait until after the new year, after the new council is established following the general election in November, to appoint a new council president.
Two spots on council remain up for election in November, one held by Kathy Osborne and one by Karen Engel. Osborne took over the seat of former council member John Darling Jr., who is currently running for Sandpoint City Council. Osborne has sat on council for the past two years and is running for re-election, while Engel is not. Voters will see four candidates on the ballot for Ponderay City Council in November, including Osborne, Jacquie Guinan, Nancy Piatt and Phil McNearney.
The city is planning to host a candidate forum from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, for community members to meet the candidates.
In Sandpoint, three four-year terms are up for election in November. While council president Shannon Williamson is running for re-election, the other two seats, held by Bob Camp and Stephen Snedden, are up for grabs as the pair are not running for re-election.
Six people are on the ballot for the Sandpoint, City Council including Joel Aispuro, Jeff Bohnhof, John E. Darling Jr., Mose Dunkel, Robert Jediny and Williamson.
Sandpoint Online and the Sandpoint Reader are hosting a candidates' forum for Sandpoint City Council candidates from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, at Sandpoint Community Hall. The event is open to the public with a moderated question-and-answer format. Audience members can submit questions for the candidates.
In both cities, candidates run at large rather than by zone. In Sandpoint, the top three candidates to receive majority vote will be elected, and in Ponderay, the top two will take over the seats.
Voters can head to their local polling places between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Nov. 7. For information such as sample ballots and to find out where to vote, visit the Bonner County Elections website at bonnercounty.us/elections.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.
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