Beautiful Coeur d’Alene has been my home since 1955. My lovely wife and I raised our family here and we are fortunate that our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have chosen to live here.

I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the voters of this city for their faith in me by allowing me to serve them for 50 years as a member of the Coeur d’Alene City Council, including one term as their mayor.

During my time in city government, I have watched and been part of decisions that have made life so much better for our residents. I have learned the essential qualifications and experience that make a person an effective councilman; that is why I’m pleased to endorse Christie Wood as my replacement on the Coeur d’Alene City Council. She would bring a wealth of experience to the Council, having served 26 years as a Coeur d’Alene police officer before retiring, served eight years on the Coeur d’Alene School District Board, has been on the North Idaho College Board of Trustees for the past 15 years and has served with me for the past three years on the City Park and Recreation Commission. She is a military veteran.

I hope you will join Nancy and me to vote for Christie on Nov. 5, the candidate who will need no on-the-job training.

RON EDINGER

Coeur d’Alene City Councilman