POST FALLS — Mayor-Elect Randy Westlund’s plans for filling Post Falls City Council Seat No. 5 are drawing criticism.

Westlund said Tuesday he is nominating one person.

"The mayor makes a nomination and the council votes to confirm," Westlund said. "Some mayors have opted to make a show of this process by bringing forth multiple names and only revealing which is the actual nominee right before the vote." 

Westlund took issue with publicly interviewing individuals for the seat only to make the last-minute nomination appointment. 

“Not only does this have no basis in state law, it’s also disrespectful to publicly name and interview other candidates that the mayor has no intention of nominating,” Westlund said. 

Outgoing Mayor Ron Jacobson said that before Westund's decision, former Post Falls mayors would bring a name forward for council confirmation based on the interview, experience, qualifications, community involvement and other community experience. 

“I find it interesting that what is required of the mayor elect is far less than what was required of me,” Jacobson said.    

Jacobson said the appointment process was simple for the 15 years he served on the City Council and during the first 10 years as mayor. He noted that throughout this time, every candidate to his memory received unanimous approval. 

“That changed two years ago with the election of two new councilors,” Jacobson said. “They wanted to be able to ask questions, review the applications and be more involved in the decision making. I honored that request.” 

When there were two open seats on the council in November 2024, Jacobson said he received numerous emails demanding public interviews. 

“The claims were that none of the three candidates I brought forward for interviews were qualified," Jacobson said. "It was also stated that since Kootenai County Republican Central Committee endorsees vacated the two seats, the seats should be filled by people approved by the central committee." 

Jacobson said he was also told by Post Falls residents not to “rush into making an appointment.”

Ryan Davis was selected as the councilor to fill Seat No. 6 in late November, allowing the City Council to have a voting quorum.  

City Councilor Joe Malloy said that state statutes on the appointment process are open to interpretation, beyond the fact that the mayor puts forth the candidate for the council to vote on. 

“There is clearly at least some concern among Post Falls residents about transparency this time around, because several have reached out to me over the last 24 hours,” Malloy said. “Mayor-Elect Westlund isn't bound to use the same process previous mayors have used, and it is beyond the council's authority to demand that he do.” 

Marc Lucca will occupy Seat No. 6 beginning Jan. 6. He considers Westlund’s change in the process to be "an improvement” that is more respectful to applicants. 

“There isn't any value in wasting the time of the staff, council, applicants or the public in keeping up appearances,” he said. 

Lucca said the new process respects the transparency goals that were part of his platform and noted that the candidate's name will be published in time for voters to engage in the appointment process through a public hearing.   

Westlund said that he will include his candidate for Post Falls City Council Seat No. 5 in the agenda packet released Friday ahead of the Jan. 6 council meeting.  

“We live in a republic, where we elect officials to act on behalf of the people while exercising the duties of the office,” Westlund said. “When I take the oath of office on Jan. 6, I will have a duty to use my judgment to make a nomination to fill the vacant seat until the next election. Voters have entrusted me with this duty, and I will carry it out as specified in state law.”   

    Malloy
  

    Jacobson
  

    Lucca