COEUR d'ALENE — A resident who ran for City Council and lost a close race told the council Tuesday it is not representing the people and could face recalls.

“If the City Council refuses to listen to the people it will be forced to face the consequences of their actions,” JD Claridge said during the public comment period.

Claridge ran against longtime councilman Woody McEvers in the Nov. 2 general election. He received 4,743 votes, 43%, while McEvers received 5,677 votes, 51%.

“I love this town. I have a deep care for the people of this community. Because of my concern last November I ran for city council,” Claridge said.

Other council races were also close, with incumbents Amy Evans and Kiki Miller prevailing. The mayor’s race was close, with Jim Hammond receiving 5,627, 50%, to Joe Alfieri’s 4,975, 44%.

“The Coeur d’Alene Press even ran a piece titled, ‘Lake City Squeakers,' noting how close all the city races were," Claridge said.

He said it was one of the highest voter turnouts in the city’s history.

“This highlighted the growing displeasure with the way the city has been run for years,” he said.

Claridge referenced a recent council meeting when about 25 people spoke against the city accepting $8.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The council voted 5-1 to accept it.

“Something’s off. There's a disconnect here,” Claridge said.

He went on and added, “We may never know the true reason for this decision.”

“But one thing is clear. The City Council is not representing the citizens of Coeur d’Alene,” Claridge said. “So what can a frustrated citizen such as myself do in this situation? We have options.”

He said they could organize a recall effort against council members. They could run for office. They could file bond claims against city officials.

“I will say that these things and other actions are already being considered and some are actually being undertaken,” he said. “We need to reclaim Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for the people.”

He said he did want to thank the council "for one thing, an awakening of the people. A groundswell is now taking place, starting with the roughly 5,000 citizens who voted for myself and the other conservative candidates."

He said they have started a website at cdachange.com where others can join their movement.

“We'll not back down and we're not going away,” Claridge said.

Councilman Dan Gookin said Wednesday he understands that Claridge and others are upset with the council and some of its actions, and he likes to hear from the people, but he said threatening a recall isn’t the best way to get things done.

He agreed close council races are often a sign people aren’t happy with how the city is doing things.

“We’re always trying to do better,” he said.

Mayor Jim Hammond on Wednesday said, “Elections are either lost or won. The incumbents won so you have to move ahead with that.”

Hammond said if Claridge and others want to pursue a recall, there’s nothing he can do about that.

He said it’s disheartening to see anger expressed toward the city.

“We have to pull together as a community because we have real challenges,” he said.

He cited examples of affordable housing and small businesses struggling to find workers to fill jobs as "the real problems we need to solve,” Hammond said.

He said the City Council does represent the city of more than 50,000 well and noted that of those who spoke out against accepting the ARPA funds at the recent meeting most did not live in Coeur d’Alene.

“The council is charged with representing the whole city,” Hammond said.

In other city business, Hammond postponed appointing Katie Linder and Abby Light to the Arts Commission.

Citizen Lynda Putz, during public comment, was critical of Light’s art work on her website.

Hammond said he would hold the appointments because he understand there was not an opportunity for others to apply.

“Those were just the names given,” he said.

“When we have (an) opening for boards we ought to open that to the public and give the public that opportunity to apply.”

Councilman Dan Gookin said he would have voted no and said there are 50,000 people in the city.

“We tend to have very exclusive committees,” he said.

Gookin said he looked at Light’s website and had no issues with her art work.

“I don’t think a committee should appoint its own members; then you have ossification of the committee,” he said. “I don’t think staff should be appointing members to committee, either.”

Gookin said he has encouraged people to apply for the Arts Commission.

“I think it will be much more representative, Mayor, and I thank you for making that decision,” Gookin said.