By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Nine mayors and five decades later, Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Ron Edinger is hanging up his public service hat.

"Well, I tell you, I've been there 50 years," he said Wednesday in a phone interview with The Press. "I'm 82, be 83 in May, and I've had some health problems."

Edinger will not seek re-election. As reported in Wednesday’s Press, Edinger is giving his full support to retired Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Christie Wood.

"I've talked to Christie, and she's been a good supporter," Edinger said. "She's been on some city committees and she's done a good job, and I think she would do a good job for the city.

“She asked me for my support, and I said, ‘Yes Christie, I'll support you because you've done a good job,’” he said. "She was a good police officer and I think she's been well-respected in the community. I'll support her."

Edinger said he’s been on the council for quite a while and he knows he will miss it, "but like I say, it's probably time for somebody else."

"I'm going to miss the people that I've worked with," he said. "I'm going to miss the council people. But I think it's time for me to hang it up."

He'll still be keeping an eye on things, though.

"I'll be watching on TV and reading the newspaper and probably going to some council meetings," he said. "When the council does something I don't appreciate, or I think is wrong, I'm going to let them know about it, too."