Video: Who knew? Mayor's a star
<p>Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer, left, and Councilman Woody McEvers appear in a video screened Monday for guests at the annual Human Rights Banquet hosted by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. </p>
The audience at Monday night's human rights banquet choked up.
They also cracked up.
Emcee Tony Stewart did his darnedest to dampen most of the 952 eyes in the Coeur d'Alene Inn banquet room. He unleashed a world-class keynoter, Cd'A native Bruce Reed. Reed unfurled his professional speech-writing ability like Old Glory, his words embracing parents Scott and Mary Lou like a loving son's heartfelt hug.
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe took Stewart's full measure of respect and admiration, a wreath reserved for heroes — which Stewart and the emphatic audience declared the Tribe to be.
And from his hospital room, City Councilman Ron Edinger certainly felt the love, even if he couldn't see it or hear it when the crowd honored him for his stance against discrimination.
But Mayor Steve Widmyer made his Hollywood debut and, in many ways, stole the show with Councilman Woody McEvers and a cast of well-known locals. Don't take our word for it; check out the video. And join us in giving former Councilman Mike Kennedy a cheap plastic trophy worthy of the Good Sport of the Evening.
- Mike Patrick