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Today is the day we let less than 11% of voters or about 2,700 people determine who makes decisions in our schools*, cities, and other local governing bodies.* While that doesn’t sound like democracy, Kootenai county voting data reveal less than 20% of Coeur d’Alene registered voters cast a ballot in 2019. The lack of state and national elections contributes to the lack of involvement. However, local and national controversies such as masking and mandates as well as tragedies such as the alleged Virginia rape and associated school board cover-up have piqued parent involvement and furor. It will be interesting to see if the vocal activism and protests turn out more votes than Coeur d’Alene’s  2019 total just over 5,300.

Below are our Coeur d’Alene election predictions not to be confused with our endorsement: 

Voter Turnout prediction: 6,800

School District 271:

Lisa May, Rebecca Smith, Lindsey Swingrover

CdA City Council and Mayor:

Jim Hammond, mayor

Woody McEvers

Kiki Miller

Amy Evans

2019 Turnout

2019 CDA City Voting
precinct	registered voters	Votes Cast	percent votes
37	919	80	8.71%
38	1327	184	13.87%
39	2358	249	10.56%
40	1743	162	9.29%
42	1394	195	13.99%
43	1290	169	13.10%
44	1375	242	17.60%
45	1381	165	11.95%
46	1429	253	17.70%
47	1544	282	18.26%
48	720	100	13.89%
49	909	130	14.30%
50	724	101	13.95%
51	1354	116	8.57%
52	749	139	18.56%
53	1004	128	12.75%
54	955	125	13.09%
55	772	155	20.08%
56	697	129	18.51%
57	613	105	17.13%
58	965	251	26.01%
59	611	114	18.66%
60	555	93	16.76%
61	609	157	25.78%
62	585	119	20.34%
absentee	0	1371
	26582	5314	19.99%
https://www.kcgov.us/DocumentCenter/View/12643/Results-by-Precinct-Official

https://www.kcgov.us/907/Voter-Turnout

*Please note that school board zones include rural areas that do not vote in city council elections. The precincts listed all are within Coeur d’Alene city limits.

Zone 1: Vote Allie Anderton

Third term hopeful Lisa May is the most experienced, best-spoken and, perhaps, most highly educated candidate for CdA school board. We are grateful for the time, effort, and sacrifice she has given in the service of our community. While this makes her an obvious choice, public opinion reveals her apparent advantage may be her achilles heel. Local parents who wished to remain anonymous described her as obstinate and a better ruler than a representative while voicing disappointment in her lack of compromise and distrust of common sense during the pandemic. Lisa did not respond for comment.

For a board member who will hopefully work well with others we endorse third-generation CdA resident and parent with kids in 271 schools Allie Anderton for Zone 1.

Zone 5: Vote Rebecca Smith

While less vocal during her tenure on the school board, Rebecca has skillfully managed maintaining common sense while seeking to follow expert advice. We see no reason to unseat Rebecca Smith from her position and look forward to her continued advocacy for common sense solutions that put kids first. Rebecca Smith for Zone 5.

Zone 4: Vote Lesli Bjerke

Although we endorse Lesli Bjerke, our rationale is based on her opponent Lindsey Swingrover, who is, perhaps, the most impressive candidate of all trustee candidates. Her signs populate the vast majority of lawns with signs in Zone 4. She is passionate about our kids and schools. Her disposition is grippingly sincere. She has clearly fought for many causes close to her heart and arguably has the highest emotional intelligence among the entire field of candidates. She seemed to indicate that taking kids out of school last year was a mistake during the CdA Press candidate forum. She seems the perfect candidate but she has two problems. 

First, her campaign literature is disingenuous in touting partisan connections alluding to ideals vastly disparate from what she tweets on Twitter. This leads us to her second problem, her social media presence where she describes Idaho as “broken,” “godforsaken,” calling our representative to congress a “monster” and referring to our new neighbors who call themselves political refugees as “extremists.” She went so far as describing our community as worse than when the Aryan Nations were here. These are frightful characterizations and should disqualify her from serving in a non-partisan position in desperate need of a unifyer. Barring her vitriolic tweets which surfaced we would have ignorantly endorsed her wholeheartedly. Screenshots of her tweets are here. Lindsey did not respond for comment or clarification regarding her tweets. Zone 4 Endorsement: Lesli Bjerke

Cover Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Lisa May for CdA website offers no contact information to get in touch with the campaign or Lisa herself. That would be helpful for those of us who have never met nor corresponded with her. However, a donation option is available via paypal. In an attempt to reach out to Lisa we decided to make a donation. Apparently the minimum donation is $1.00. Whether that is set by the campaign itself or Paypal is unknown. As a scrappy start-up we donated $1 in hopes for an auto reply with an accompanying email address. Unfortunately it was only accompanied by a paypal email address and a surprising response from Lisa May. 

Note from Lisa May For CdA Schools: “I’m guessing you were trying to make a point. We talked about it at the dinner table last night and reminded our kids that living by the “golden rule” is always better than striking out and being mean. I’m glad you could provide a learning opportunity.” (emphasis added)

To assume a $1 donation is evidence of someone “striking out and being mean” is a sad reflection of the division and hurt that has apparently seeped into our community. Clearly, Lisa has become defensive after possibly being targeted, insulted, scrutinized and questioned over the last two years. Citizens and parents need to be involved, campaign, discuss, speak up, and vote but we must avoid name-calling, insults, and threats. Her passive-aggressive response could have rightfully claimed the moral high ground by simply proclaiming to us and her kids at the dinner table: “Thank you. Every dollar counts!”

With local elections looming the Kootenai County Republicans have vetted candidates and published endorsements. Before jumping on the bandwagon consider the fairly recent turn over at NIC Board of Trustees and its impact. If you have 20 minutes you can watch a recent board meeting here. It is reminiscent of an SNL skit attempting to display a dysfunctional dystopia. Below is our take:

Watch this clip as NIC former president is ignored in an open public meeting by Chair Banducci.

Here are the best local resources to track local cases of Covid.

CdA Schools:https://www.cdaschools.org/covid

Panhandle Health District Dashboard: https://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/dashboard/

Panhandle Updated numbers: https://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/

Kootenai Health Inpatient Data: https://www.kh.org/covid-19/

Sources claim multistory condos will be developed at the former US Bank building at 302 E Sherman adjacent to the Coeur d’Alene Resort Shops. One source indicates half of the condos are already spoken for even though a proposal has not gone through planning and zoning commission. The property is zoned DC, downtown core, and has a building height limit ranging from 75 to 220 feet. Public records indicate the former US Bank building at 302 E Sherman Ave is owned by Front Row Propereties LLC which ties back to local developer Tom Anderl. Downtown Core zoning requirements are here.

Coeur d’Alene Park and Rec Commission delays approving upgraded park due to lack of portapotty or other restrooms.

Slated to get a $275,000 upgrade one of downtown CdA’s gems, Sherman Park Square could have gravel paths replaced by grass, concrete additional trees and a water feature. The park is proposed to be a centennial celebration of Rotary’s impact on the city and highlighted by their generous donation, and renamed Coeur d’Alene Rotary Centennial Park.

The current park was converted from a building after a devastating fire in 1980 and remained privately owned until recently. The owners recently sold the park to a public/private partnership between ignitecda, the cities urban renewal agency, and the local Rotary chapter. Rotary is poised to invest an additional $275,000 in upgrades prior to transferring ownership to the city. 

Park and Rec commissioners voiced concerns over lack of lavatory options in the 7884 sq ft park and determined that loss of parking stalls would be concerning. Parks and Rec director is concerned about the water feature maintenance and possibilities of soap pranks which have happened to the K27 Memorial at McEuen Park once over the last several years.

A historic home on Military Dr is demolished, today, after severe damage from the wind storm.

The property is on a corner and a double lot.

A view of the damage prior to demolition.

Prior to tree removal

Many Large trees were lost and additional trees were removed out of caution.

Luckily these cars were empty at the time of the storm.

 Meet Steve Widmyer, CdA’s Mayor.

A long time resident of Sander’s Beach neighborhood, businessman, accountant, real estate investor, developer, husband, father, and civil servant, Steve Widmyer has lived an interesting life–the quintessential American Dream. This is the first in a three part series on Steve. Here we highlight the mayor.

The Mayor

As mayor, Steve’s door/email is always open. If inadequate, issues related to city business may be brought to his (and council’s) attention in person by any member of the public for three minutes during bimonthly city council meetings. With public comment topics ranging from UFO’s, Sasquatch, parking problems, and noise complaints, he likely never knows what to expect. Our favorite public comment interaction during the mayor’s past six years in office originate from a recent city council meeting when brilliant Harvard-educated attorney and community activist, David Lyons, attempts to voice concerns in an potentially inappropriate manner. Regardless of the validity of this public comment, the mayor’s response displays diplomacy, leadership, and concern for the well-being of his team. 

Our next two posts about the mayor will highlight his rise to prominence and the scrutiny he faces as he continues to follow his passions of real estate development and revitalization of CdA.

Watch our favorite 3 minutes here.