COEUR d’ALENE — Election Day is almost here.

Elections staff anticipate that 30% to 40% of Kootenai County’s 110,000 registered voters will turn out for Tuesday’s election. The four-way Coeur d’Alene mayoral race might drive a higher turnout for the general election than in 2023 and 2021, which saw countywide turnouts of about 31% and about 35%, respectively. 

Almost everyone in the county has a race to vote on, including city and school board races, but according to elections staff, about 2,500 voters scattered across the county won’t have anything to vote on because their races were uncontested or because of where they reside. Visit voteidaho.gov to check a sample ballot before heading to the polls. 

Here’s a look at some of the major races across Kootenai County. 

Coeur d’Alene mayor 

After more than 20 years as a city councilor and a little more than a year after he was appointed Coeur d’Alene mayor, Woody McEvers is facing three challengers in the fight to retain his position. 

Fellow longtime Coeur d’Alene City Councilor Dan Gookin is also on the ballot, along with dentist John Pulsipher and property management business owner Debbie Loffman. 

For McEvers, who has lived in Idaho for 58 years, housing is the top issue in this race. He said he believes the City Council and municipal government can make a difference by collaborating with area builders, loan institutions, real estate agents and other community organizations. 

Gookin, a Kootenai County resident since 1993, said it’s time to cut spending. If elected mayor, he said he’ll take a deep dive into the budget and daily operations of the city and work with legislators to get a hotel/bed tax. This tax paid by tourists would help offset the cost of first responders over the summer months. 

Pulsipher, too, honed in on the city’s budget as a major issue. He said he’ll increase city revenue by working with hotels and short-term rentals to implement voluntary overnight fees and work with legislators to make it possible for Coeur d’Alene to collect the fee. A Kootenai County resident of 17 years, Pulsipher also said he’ll prioritize informing and engaging with Coeur d’Alene residents. 

Loffman, who moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2020, said her No. 1 issue is protecting the quality of life for residents in the face of rapid growth. Residents feel their concerns aren’t being heard, she said, and as mayor, she would refocus city government on safety, livability and law enforcement. 

Post Falls mayor 

Growth is at the center of the three-way race for Post Falls mayor. 

Ron Jacobson, a lifelong Kootenai County resident, served for 15 years on the Post Falls City Council and is now seeking reelection to a fourth term as mayor. Though the city doesn’t solicit residential growth, he said there’s no denying Post Falls has been discovered. Jacobson said he supports “logical growth.” If reelected, he said he’ll continue to work with city staff to find operational efficiencies, work with state leaders to make sure they know the impact of their legislation on local taxing districts and strive to keep taxes under control. 

Scot Haug, a retired Post Falls police chief, said if elected mayor, he’ll overhaul how the city plans growth, prioritizing public safety and infrastructure and building high-density housing “only where it makes sense.” He said it’s possible to maintain Post Falls’ unique character while keeping it safe and affordable for families. 

Post Falls City Councilor Randy Westlund said a “compelling, positive vision” for Post Falls is needed. He said his own vision for the city is family-oriented and the question of whether a decision is good for families should shape tax policy, development and investments in services like public safety and infrastructure. 

Hayden City Council 

For Hayden City Council Seat 2, incumbent Ed DePriest faces challenger Luke Sommer. 

DePriest said managing growth and density remains a primary issue in Hayden and across Kootenai County. He said he’ll continue work on amending the city’s comprehensive plan and future land use map to ensure that development densities are appropriate for the neighborhood. 

Sommer said it’s necessary to manage growth in order to keep Hayden’s small-town qualities. He said he believes the existing community should determine how Hayden develops and calls for a review of the city’s comprehensive plan. 

In the race for Seat 2, incumbent Sandy White said the biggest issues facing Hayden are the budget and law enforcement services. She said she’ll continue to advocate for 10 sheriff’s deputies to be assigned to Hayden and doesn’t support cuts to the services provided by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. 

David Erickson, White’s opponent, serves on Hayden’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Hayden must manage development wisely, he said, encouraging well-planned projects that fit the community’s vision and resisting growth patterns that strain resources and diminish Hayden’s small-town character. 

School board races 

Voters will choose between candidates in several contested races for seats on Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland boards. 

In the Coeur d’Alene School District, appointed trustee and CEO of Northwest Specialty Hospital Rick Rasmussen will face Michael Burns. Incumbent Lesli Bjerke will face write-in candidate Tom Sanner in Zone 4. 

At least two new trustees will join the Post Falls School Board. 

In Zone 1, both candidates have experience with the district. Incumbent Neil Uhrig, a former Post Falls police officer and current Secret Service agent, is seeking a second term on the board. Challenger Brad Harmon is in his first year as principal of Kellogg Middle School and has spent more than 20 years as a teacher and administrator in the Post Falls School District. 

Kelli Johnson and Thomas Barrett Jr. will compete for the open Zone 5 seat. 

The Lakeland School District will see two contested races. In Zone 4, incumbent David Quimby faces challenger Chris Beaty. Allison Burnett and Jeff Broadhead are competing for the seat in Zone 5.