By CRAIG NORTHRUP

Staff Writer

Tonight, seven candidates will converge at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library to introduce themselves to voters.

The Coeur d’Alene Candidate Forum, sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Press, will highlight the various hopefuls vying for City Council seats One, Three and Five.

Seat One, currently held by the retiring Ron Edinger, is a choice between Christie Wood and Elaine Price. Wood is a retired member of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department and current member of the North Idaho College Board of Trustees. Price has lived in Coeur d’Alene for 29 years and describes herself as a resident with an “absolute passion” for the city.

Michael Pereira is challenging incumbent Council Member Dan Gookin for Seat Three. Pereira, a Lake City High School and University of Idaho graduate, has lived in Coeur d’Alene since 1992 and has been involved with a variety of community organizations, such as the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce and CDA 2030. Gookin, an accomplished author who founded the “For Dummies” series, has been involved with Kootenai Health’s Festival of Trees, Lake City Playhouse and has served on the City Council since 2011.

Council Member Dan English, holding Seat Five, faces the most competition, with Tom Morgan, Roger Huntman and Lacey Moen all competing for that position. English, who recently retired from his role as director of North Idaho College’s Area 1 Agency on Aging, is the founder of two local nonprofits — Anchor House/Idaho Youth Ranch and North Idaho Youth For Christ. He served as Kootenai County’s clerk before being elected to the City Council in 2015.

Morgan is a longtime Kootenai County resident, family man and HVAC manager. Moen, a Lake City grad, launched Earthly Beauty Bar in 2011 and was listed as one of the “Top 12 Women in Business Leadership” by Spokane CDA Living Magazine, as well as a recipient of the Kootenai County Young Professionals’ “Top 30 under 40” award.

Huntman said he would not participate in the event, telling The Press that participating “is not how I campaign.”

Each candidate will have two minutes for opening remarks and two minutes for closing remarks. Between, Press staff members Andy Obermueller and Devin Weeks will ask each candidate a series of questions regarding issues, platforms and political beliefs. Managing Editor Mike Patrick will serve as moderator.

The event will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the library’s downstairs Community Room. It will be broadcast live on the city’s Facebook page, and recorded for later airing on CDATV.

The election is Nov. 5.