Hayden campaign a low-budget affair

HAYDEN — While thousands of dollars have recently poured into the campaign accounts of Coeur d'Alene City Council candidates, their Hayden counterparts have not been so financially active.

Hayden City Councilman Tim Timmins and his opponent for Council Seat No. 1, Matt Roetter, both had somewhat lackluster pre-election campaign finance reports, which were filed by Oct. 9 and Oct. 10, respectively. Timmins had no expenses or contributions to report while Roetter reported the $25 that he contributed to his own campaign.

“I opened up a campaign checking account and it took $25 to do that,” Roetter said.

Timmins said the 30 days prior to report deadline were relatively quiet because donations and contributions have not yet come in and his campaign has not yet purchased materials for mailers to send to the community. He also said reusing campaign signs from the last election have helped his campaign save money.

“I’m not a believer in spending money until you need to,” Timmins said.

Roetter said his reports will reflect more action as the election nears. He said he has been prioritizing caring for his daughter, who has stage 4 breast cancer, but intends to be out in the neighborhoods handing out rack cards in the days to come.

"The next report will show a lot more," he said. "Family comes first."