Wanted: Only the best

Coeur d'Alene is looking for a few good men and women.

Three seats are open on the Coeur d'Alene City Council, and so is the mayoral position.

Already, Sandi Bloem has decided that after a dozen years as mayor, she's had enough. Mary Souza and Jim Brannon have already announced they want that job.

Mike Kennedy, Deanna Goodlander and Woody McEvers are all up for re-election, but none has announced her/his intentions.

With election season apparently now open - a full five months before the vote - we encourage the very best to step forward.

The best, in our opinion, aren't one-issue candidates. They aren't the men or women known only for verifying the wisdom of investing in McEuen or vilifying city leaders for same. The best will have to intelligently explain their stances on many other issues, including but not limited to urban renewal, long-term planning, employee pay and benefits, city fees and taxes, working with state and federal entities, economic development and investment, and most of all, quality of life.

The best will have a track record of community stewardship, showing they build up rather than tear down. They will have sunk deep roots into Coeur d'Alene. They will have served on city or county committees, in service clubs, on non-profit boards. They will need to demonstrate a high degree of service, not lip service.

The best will be able to enunciate what they are for, and spell out how those things can be accomplished; not what they're against, and why everyone else should be against those things, too.

The best will have a clear plan for maintaining what's great about Coeur d'Alene while ensuring its weaknesses are being addressed. The best will balance the bounties of nature's blessings and families' ability to feed themselves. The best will understand the difference between need and want, then have the fortitude to act wisely on all requests.

Intelligence. Fairness. Ability to listen. Determination to understand. Willingness to stand behind difficult decisions. Proven service. These are attributes the very best will possess.

We have heard already, more times than we can count, why the best candidates probably aren't willing to run for office. Supposedly, the pluses - including a meager salary of $750 a month for council members ($2,700 for mayor), plus benefits - don't outweigh the minuses, including countless hours of work while facing a potentially angry mob over and over again.

Great leaders aren't in it for the money, and they're not in it for the accolades. They're in it because they have a burning passion to make a great city even better.

Good men and good women of Coeur d'Alene, please, step forward. Lead well, and this community will happily follow.