A stroll in the park

COEUR d'ALENE - The message is loud and clear.

Three candidates who opposed the city's handling of the McEuen Field project swept into office Tuesday, a possible political backlash for the current administration who adopted the downtown park's conceptual plan earlier this year.

Coeur d'Alene City Council President Ron Edinger retained seat 1, while challengers Dan Gookin and Steve Adams won seats 3 and 5, respectively.

All three took strong stances on the campaign trail denouncing the city's decision to adopt the conceptual plan on May 24 - more specifically, not putting the what-could-be $39 million park up to a public advisory vote.

"I would like to say the public finally got their vote on McEuen Field, and they spoke loud and clear," said Gookin, who beat the runner-up, George Sayler, by almost 1,000 votes. This was Gookin's third attempt at a council seat. "The council got a new direction."

Gookin watched results pour in Tuesday evening at Fedora Pub and Grille with Adams and other Kootenai County Reagan Republican supporters. The local political group was active in the nonpartisan race, endorsing Gookin and Adams on grounds that all elections are partisan, regardless of whether they're marked on the ballot.

"We did it full monty," Adams said of his campaign, which pressed hot-button issues like city employee pay and McEuen Field. "I'm excited."

Adams earned 3,490 votes. John Bruning, the incumbent, took 2,070 votes and political newcomer Amber Copeland received 658.

When he takes his seat in January, Adams said he will start with issues his campaign pledged.

"Investigating the things I've been talking about, looking to reduce the budget, maybe get a vote on McEuen and reining in LCDC (Lake City Development Corp., the city's urban renewal agency and possible funding source for a McEuen Field redevelopment project)."

While the mood was festive at Fedora, it was somber in Cricket's Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, where Sayler and Bruning watched the results with supporters.

"It was McEuen Field and the vote," a disappointed Bruning said.

"It was the only issue that came up," he said about the main issues during the campaign. Bruning was seeking a second term on council and voted to approve the park's conceptual plan, adding he would vote in favor of the park all over again if he could. "I'm not going to sell out for an election."

Sayler took 2,435 votes for the open seat 3.

"I'm disappointed, not so much for myself, but for the community," the former state legislator said. "I think this election was driven out of anger. . .I hope that doesn't carry over to the council."

Mayor Sandi Bloem, who watched the results come in with Bruning and Sayler at Cricket's, didn't view the outcome as being specifically tied to just McEuen Field. Many topics played a part, and the infusion of partisan politics into the nonpartisan race played a part countywide.

"The Republicans, Tea Party and the Reagan Republicans have a very strong voice at this time," she said. "They're passionate, they're organized, and they go to the polls."

The new council could now be split on all things McEuen, 3 to 3, if those all the stances remain. That would leave Bloem as the deciding vote each time.

Asked if the new council members could work well with the current members still on board, she said, "My main goal when I work with people is if they are respectful of others. It's pretty easy for me to work on a team when there is respect. . .I would certainly hope so. They represent the city; we all do."

Political newcomers for seat 3 Pat Mitchell received 239 votes, Derec Aujay took in 46 and Annastasia Somontes carried 170.

Copeland said she plans to stay involved in city issues, and will run again in the future.

"I feel like I belong in this," she said, watching results at the Iron Horse Bar and Grill in downtown Coeur d'Alene. "There are a lot of things I am, but not a quitter."

Edinger, the longtime incumbent, regained his seat easily over another first-time candidate, Adam Graves.

Edinger has been the political face behind a public advisory vote for McEuen Field, disagreeing with major parts of the conceptual plan, like removing the baseball field and boat launch. He was the lone councilman to vote against it.

"The old geezer is still alive and well," Edinger said, celebrating the victory with his family. He thanked his supporters, and chalked up the McEuen Field issue as a big part of the outcome.

"I think McEuen Field played a big part," he said of the voters. "They want a vote on McEuen Field."

Edinger received 4,459 votes, or 72 percent of the total. Graves received 1,739 votes.