STEVEN ADAMS

Imagine a future where the prairie is paved, with nothing but development from Rathdrum to Coeur d’Alene.

Steven Adams can picture such a future. And he wants to prevent it from coming to pass.

That’s why he’s running for Rathdrum City Council, Seat 4. The election is Nov. 5.

“Once the Rathdrum Prairie is paved over, it will never go back to farmland,” Adams said.

A U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, Adams spent 34 years working for NASA. He moved to Rathdrum two and a half years ago, though his family has Idaho roots that can be traced back to 1897. One side of his family comes from the Hailey area; the other side hails from Boise.

Adams said he’s like many other West Coast transplants who moved to Idaho to escape what he calls “California politics.” He wants to help preserve the Idaho way of life he admires so much.

“I can see how Idaho’s changing into California,” he said. “We’re losing our quality of life and the reason most of us came to the area.”

For Adams, the biggest issue facing Rathdrum is growth. He’s concerned that Rathdrum is expanding too quickly, without the infrastructure in place to support that growth.

He emphasizes a smart-growth strategy — developing within the city limits before expanding onto the prairie and converting more farmland into urban spaces, and focusing on infrastructure like roads and schools before new housing.

“Let’s get another supermarket before we build more houses,” he said.

Adams said his concerns are shared by many Rathdrum residents. In fact, his neighbors encouraged him to run.

“I owe the taxpayers a debt,” he said. “I want to be of service to the community.”

Adams said he hopes to see a high voter turnout and encourages the community to cast a ballot, even if it’s not for him.

“You have no right to complain if you don’t vote,” he said.

DEBBIE HOLMES

Debbie Holmes said she moved to Rathdrum for a better life.

She found one — and she wants others to have the same opportunities she’s enjoyed. That, she said, is why she’s seeking re-election to Rathdrum City Council Seat 4.

A New York native, Holmes was first elected to the council 12 years ago. Since then, she said, she’s lobbied to bring numerous projects and opportunities to Rathdrum, including the Kootenai Technical Education Campus and the North Idaho College Parker Technical Education Center.

“People can come here from all over the area to get the skills they need to get a good job or move on to a four-year school,” she said.

Holmes said she envisions a future where Rathdrum’s youth return to their hometown to live and work. The first step is attracting employers who pay good wages.

To that end, Holmes said, housing sometimes has to come to a community before business, because employers need somewhere for their employees to live.

Holmes said she understands some residents’ concerns about Rathdrum’s rapid growth. The city council tries to build within the city limits when possible rather, she said.

“We’re trying to control our growth,” she said. “But people want to live here. They want a better life for their kids.”

Rathdrum carries no debt, Holmes said. Since 2009, the city has not raised taxes by more than 2 percent per year. Holmes said this is in part because of money generated by construction-related fees.

Holmes said she encourages residents to look at their tax bill and see exactly what comes from the city.

“We’re not taxing people who already live in Rathdrum for the people who want to move here,” she said.

Growing up in Peekskill, N.Y., Holmes had a favorite book that took place in a small town. She wanted to live in such a place one day — and Rathdrum turned out to be it. She said she wants other residents to feel the same way about Rathdrum that she does.

“We provide a great way of life to people who live here,” she said.