Election pits positive vs. negative

Even before Mayor Bloem announced she would not be seeking re-election for mayor of Coeur d'Alene, there was a lot of speculation as to who would run to be the leader of our great community. It would have to be someone capable of minimizing the divide that has gripped our town for the last few years. It would have to be someone with experience in the community and the ability to manage budgets, organizational charts, and personalities of all types. It would have to be someone who could listen to all sides fairly. And it would have to be someone who could continue leading Coeur d'Alene's unprecedented growth in a responsible and respectful manner.

Having grown up in this town, and then having moved back to raise my own family here after college, I have a natural interest in issues facing our growing community, including the current election and who will become our next mayor. For me, this election comes down to a simple choice: a positive future of growth and prosperity, or an immediate future of negativity, stagnancy, and disrespect.

While I have always paid attention to local issues, I became heavily involved almost by accident nearly three years ago. At that time, one of the biggest issues facing our community was the proposed redesign of McEuen Park. On Feb. 10, 2011, a meeting was held at Woodland Middle School to outline the plan to the public. My husband and I loaded up our 4-month-old daughter and went to check out the plan.

I had not planned on speaking that evening, but after listening to negative comment after negative comment, I felt I had to stand up and say something. So many were focusing on the past and how things should remain unchanged. I understand wanting to respect the past - after all, McEuen was my neighborhood park growing up and I have my own personal history with it - but how could I look at my new daughter's little face and not be acknowledging the future?

For me, everything changed that night. It was no longer just about the fact that I grew up in Coeur d'Alene and this has always been my home. It became about the fact that my daughter, and now also my son, are growing up here. I want them to be proud to call Coeur d'Alene home as I always have, and that won't happen if we allow the natural positive outlook of our community to be diminished by the negative outlook of the few.

After I spoke out in favor of the park plan and then against the failed recall attempt, I became a target. The leaders of the recall derided me, my family and friends, and many others who shared my opinion. Online, in print, and in newsletters, they made assumptions, accusations of improprieties, and basically belittled anyone and everyone with whom they disagreed.

I am incredibly concerned that these same people are now trying to continue inflicting their divisive views on our community through the office of mayor and seats on the city council. When their recall attempt failed due to lack of support by the people, they shifted to trying to "reclaim" Coeur d'Alene. I would like to know: Who are they trying to reclaim Cd'A from? People like me and my family who have lived here for five generations? People like you and your family who no doubt work hard and contribute to this community? Is that what this election is really about for them? Not moving forward in a positive direction, but "reclaiming" the office of mayor for their own purposes and agenda?

This is an exciting time of growth and renewal in our town, and we have the chance to come together and be a stronger community. When the recall attempt happened, every citizen of Coeur d'Alene had a choice. One choice was to support the recall started by people who have been showering negativity on this community for the greater part of a decade. The other choice - the one most people in Coeur d'Alene chose - was to continue looking to a positive future in which we will all have the greatest opportunity to prosper.

On Nov. 5, we again have this choice.

Jennifer Drake is a Coeur d'Alene resident.