LORNA: East Side success

As a resident of East Side Highway District, I endorse Lorna Casey-Kaiser for the Highway District Commissioner. She has been in the trenches, working her tail off, organizing the neighbors to fight the forced LIDs (local improvement district) in this area. As you may know, LIDs are supplemental property tax assessments for local improvements but the local highway district has twisted them so they can use them for general maintenance, which is already covered by property taxes. One of the current LIDs is to repave a portion of Sunnyside Road while neglecting another, heavily used portion of Sunnyside Road that is still gravel. The current three LIDs, if successful, will be followed by 24 more now in the planning stages. Involuntary LIDs, although legal, are just as insidious as URDs, and need to be resisted.

In contrast, I participated in a voluntary LID to get Borley Road paved. All the neighbors got together with the Highway District to everyone's benefit.

Lorna has demonstrated the very essence of the type of people we want in office. She has called, met with and educated the neighbors, spearheaded citizen action and news media attention, circulated petitions and was successful in getting 70 percent of the LID residents to oppose the LID. She has earned the respect of those she would represent.

Most candidates say "Vote for me and I'll work hard for you" but Lorna has already worked hard for us and now we should vote for her.

BRENT REGAN

Coeur d'Alene