Gookin seeking a second term

Dan Gookin announced his bid for election to a second term on the Coeur d'Alene City Council, Seat 3. Gookin was first elected in 2011.

"Four years ago, I promised as your councilman to welcome input from everyone, to scrutinize the budget, and to provide a high level of oversight and accountability. I would like to continue doing so on behalf of the citizens and taxpayers of Coeur d'Alene," Gookin said in a press release.

One of Gookin's goals for his next term is to transfer control of the city's urban renewal agency from an unelected board to the City Council.

"As has been done elsewhere in the state, I believe we can add accountability and oversight to economic development by having the City Council act as the urban renewal board," he said in the release.

If successful, Gookin said he promises to create a clear, honest plan for urban renewal/economic development, one with specific benchmarks for success and defined public benefits. "I'm not opposed to urban renewal, but it must be done with transparency and respect for the public whose money is being spent," he said.

Gookin's other goals include continued support of public safety, specifically to bring police and fire staffing up to required levels. He also promotes accommodating growth in a manner that retains the character of existing neighborhoods.

For a long-term goal, Gookin is enthusiastic about establishing a performing arts center in the downtown core. "It's just talk at this point," said Gookin, "but I believe a state- of-the-art theater could add a new cultural dimension to our downtown, which is the heart of the city."

Gookin has been a Kootenai County resident for 22 years. In 2002, he moved to Coeur d'Alene. Starting in 2005, he began scrutinizing the city's urban renewal agency, then known as the Lake City Development Corporation, or LCDC.

After two attempts in 2007 and 2009, Gookin succeeded in winning a Council seat in 2011 during the McEuen Field controversy. In a five-way race, he garnered 54 percent of the vote.

Gookin is an author, having written more than 150 books on technology, including the book DOS For Dummies, which spawned the entire For Dummies line of books. He is the father of four boys. Gookin holds a degree in communications/visual arts from the University of California, San Diego.

Gookin's campaign website is dangookin.com, and his campaign email address is [email protected]