This servant truly served

Quick: What's the last big Post Falls city controversy you remember?

How about a small one?

Without controversy, it's hard to sell newspapers. But controversy can also leave nasty scars, and Post Falls has been spared many of them. For that, Mayor Clay Larkin deserves much of the credit.

Larkin, who has been leading his community for 13 years, has faced health challenges recently and opted not to try to extend his tenure - which already was the longest in Post Falls mayoral history. With Coeur d'Alene's Sandi Bloem and Hayden's Ron McIntire, Larkin gave Kootenai County's three largest cities leadership that played no small part in countless regional success stories. Though their styles were different, no Kootenai County mayor has been more effective than Larkin. His most distinguishing characteristic was, in our view, his ability to serve so well from beside his constituents, rather than above them.

Throughout his terms, Larkin popularized what amounted to fireside chats with Post Falls residents. He'd let them know which coffee house or restaurant he'd visit at a certain time and invite people to come not to hear him preach or pontificate, but for open two-way communication. Some elected officials talk a good transparency game; Larkin practiced it by making himself available not just in his office, but outside it. And you didn't need to be rich or influential to make an appointment and be heard.

Another hallmark of Larkin's tenure is the Mayor's Youth Commission, which he created a dozen years ago. In that span, the commission has honored more than 2,000 youths. Kids really do count with this man. Larkin attended more than 60 Eagle Scout ceremonies during his mayoral reign.

The honors and the list of service accomplishments behind his name are far too lengthy to repeat here, but one of Larkin's greatest achievements rarely gets mentioned. Post Falls has had no champion of his equal in the quest for economic development, and it's hard to imagine the city ever will. When there was even the remotest chance of a local business expanding, a new one coming in or a potential wanderer encouraged to stay, Larkin was on the front lines. When he saw an opportunity, he'd pick up the phone and work his way to the top. He was as fearless as he was relentless, understanding that one of the greatest goods he could effect would be to expand the local jobs horizon. Buck Knives, the constellation of quality companies in the Riverbend Commerce Park development, and even retail opportunities through Walmart and Cabela's all bear signs of Larkin's vision, wisdom and persistence.

Here at The Press, we'll miss Clay Larkin mightily. He was the most accessible political figure we dealt with on a daily basis, and not just for the fluffy stuff. He worked relentlessly on a part-timer's pay. He was a gentleman who always earned respect because he always gave it. He was a public servant who never forgot who was working for whom.

Clay Larkin was also our friend, and while his service as mayor soon comes to an end, we hope his friendship never does.