ELECTION: Candidates' best traits

Ah, yes, election time in Coeur d’Alene. Lots of forums, lots of articles and lots of letters. Here’s one more.

Reading through the above mentioned, I still have questions about some of the candidates. Having once sat on City Council, I am aware of what faces those elected and I’m unsure that every candidate can effectively fill the bill. Here’s a few questions and comments regarding that.

Exactly how long has the candidate lived in Coeur d’Alene? This is a totally valid question nowadays. You don’t have to be a lifer but some longevity in the community is important.

How has the candidate served our community? There’s nothing wrong with an “average citizen” running for election, in fact I applaud it. But what relevant experiences prepare them for office? Have they been active in an organization or cause? And I won’t count anything that includes political, religious or professional experience.

Do they have leadership capabilities? Have they sat on the board of directors of any local, civic or charity organization? That is where service to your community begins and I believe is crucial to building leaders. City Council isn’t the place to learn protocol.

Is the candidate running on a political agenda? City Council is the last bastion of non-partisan involvement, let’s keep it that way. Voting for a person because they are a good Republican/Democrat is just wrong.

Is the candidate running a one issue campaign? Once last century we had a one issue sweep of mayor and council. They drove their issue but overall it wasn’t one of our best eras of city leadership. Balance and insight are critical.

I urge the people of Coeur d’Alene to consider these points before casting their ballot. As it stands now, I will be voting for the individuals who can and do meet these criteria.

DAVE WALKER

Coeur d’Alene since 1955