SANDPOINT — After receiving several applications for the position of District 1 representative, the Public Transportation Advisory Council is seeking public comment to help them in their decision. Among the three final candidates is Ryan Luttmann of Sandpoint.

“As a civil engineer, public transportation has always been near and dear to my heart,” Luttmann told the Bonner County Daily Bee.

“I have seen first-hand the importance of local, reliable public transportation and am passionate about its continued implementation and improvement here in North Idaho and beyond. I am excited about this opportunity to provide service and advice regarding issues and policies pertaining to public transportation for the ITD Board in District 1.”

Also vying for the PTAC position are Kimberly Hobson of Hayden, and Leonard Crosby of Post Falls. The individual selected will represent Bonner, Boundary, Shoshone, Kootenai, and Benewah counties.

PTAC is supported by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Public Transportation Program, made up of six members appointed by the Idaho Transportation Department Board who advise the Department on issues and policies regarding public transportation.

Luttmann has served as the senior project manager for Century West Engineering for nearly a year, since tenuring his resignation from the city of Sandpoint where he was the Public Works director for two years. Prior to that, Luttmann was the area transportation manager and senior project manager for J-U-B Engineers for four years and worked for Bonner County as the Road and Bridge director, as well as the county engineer for Public Works dating back to 2004. Included with his application were seven letters of recommendation from area transportation officials, as well as the mayor of Bonners Ferry.

Crosby is the vice president of commercial real estate for Community 1st Bank in Post Falls, as well as a managing member of Financial and Real Estate Consulting, LLC. From 2000-2007, Crosby served as vice president for Intervest Mortgage investment Co. in Spokane. He worked at other real estate and banking companies dating back to 1972 as well. In his application, Crosby said he was encouraged by former Sen. Marv Hagedorn to apply for the position, as they have worked closely together on Idaho’s application to the Veterans Administration for a fourth veterans home in North Idaho.

Hobson’s professional background includes serving as a family self-sufficiency specialist and HUD certified housing counselor for Idaho Housing and Finance, program specialist for Kootenai County public transit, volunteer coordinator for Kootenai Humane Society, director of development and marketing for Village at Orchard Ridge, and an instructor at North Idaho Christian School. In her application,

Hobson said she wants to work toward uniting fragmented efforts and support a coordinated plan, because “North Idaho is a better place when all the transit systems, municipalities and local organizations work together as one.”

The PTAC district application public comment period opened Thursday and will be available through Feb. 2. Applications can be viewed at itd.idaho.gov/pt under the “Advisory Groups” tab.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.