RECALL: The view from NIC

As former North Idaho College elected Trustees and a former president, we wish to state our views regarding the attempt to recall Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem and Council members Deanna Goodlander, Woody McEvers and Mike Kennedy.

For more than 20 years the North Idaho College Trustees and presidents have been working on what is now the education corridor in Coeur d’Alene. The first phase of that dream is now complete. The stage has now been set for Coeur d’Alene to be the center for higher education in North Idaho thus guaranteeing access to higher education for future generations of Idaho’s children.

There were many people involved in this exciting and highly beneficial effort, including the current NIC Board of Trustees and president; however, in our estimation the education corridor would not exist but for the advocacy and hard work of the present mayor and members of the City Council who are now the focus of this recall petition.

We understand that the basis of the recall petition primarily consists of a decision not to have an advisory vote on the changes planned for McEuen Field and further that the city employees are paid too much.

As a former NIC president and as former elected NIC Trustees, we respectfully assert that these are matters best left to routine election cycles and should not be addressed in a recall petition. We also believe that these elected officials who are targets of this recall petition are very fine public servants and should be given a unanimous “Thank You” by the citizens of Coeur d’Alene rather than face a $20,000 recall election at taxpayers expense.

BOB BENNETT

JACK BEEBE

SHEILA WOOD

Coeur d’Alene