Election rundown

COEUR d’ALENE — As the city and fire district elections draw near, the deadlines for early voting in person or by absentee ballot are fast approaching.

Voters who want absentee ballots mailed to them need to submit their requests by 5 p.m. Wednesday, and those wanting to vote early in person need to visit the Kootenai County Elections office before Friday. Voters can download the absentee ballot request form from the Kootenai County Elections Office website.

The form can be returned to the elections office by mail, fax or email. Kootenai County will pay the postage for mailed absentee ballots.

Voters who want to vote early in person must do so at the elections office at 1808 N. Third St. in Coeur d’Alene. It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Registered voters need to bring photo identification with them to cast their ballot, or they may sign a personal identity affidavit instead.

New voters need to register and voters who’ve moved or changed names must reregister. They must bring photo identification and proof of residency, such as a utility bill or auto insurance certificate with the voter’s current residence address listed, and dated at least 30 days prior to their voting date.

Voters who have questions about their proof of residency documents should call the elections office at 446-1030.

Not all registered voters are having an election in November. There are several cities with no contested races. Those include the cities of Fernan, Hauser, Hayden Lake, Huetter, Rathdrum, State Line and Worley.

Here is a comprehensive summary of the active city and fire district races in Kootenai County:

• City of Athol voters will be choosing a mayor and two city council positions, as well as one new Timberlake Fire commissioner. Robert Wachter will be challenging Darla Kuhman for mayor. Council position No. 1 will go to either Daniel Ratcliff, Deborah Warner or William Hill. Council seat No. 2 will go to either Joshua Spencer or Lynn Gronlund-Cole. Byron Burrow is running against Neil Peck for fire commissioner.

• In Coeur d’Alene there are three city council seats up for grabs, but only two of those are contested races — Councilman Dan Gookin is running unopposed. Toby Schindelbeck is challenging incumbent Councilman Ron Edinger for seat No. 1 and Bruce MacNeil and Dan English are challenging incumbent Councilman Steve Adams for seat No. 5.

• Some Coeur d’Alene voters will also consider changing school district boundaries, as residents of the western portion of The Landings subdivision consider switching from Post Falls to Coeur d’Alene school district.

• Dalton Gardens voters will select a mayor and two city council members. Steve Roberge is challenging Robert Wright for mayor, and Jamie Smith, Bret Taylor, Scott Jordan, Denise Lundy and Rick Nordhausen are all running for the two seats.

• Harrison voters will select three city council members from a field of candidates which includes Jeff Hall, Jordan Hall, Debbie Lockhart, Tim Neville, Russell Riberich, Mark Wagner and Joe Cornell.

• The city of Hayden has the mayor’s seat and two city council positions on the ballot, but only one city council position is contested, between Matt Roetter and Tim Timmons.

• In Post Falls, voters will elect three city council members. Incumbent Kerri Thoreson is facing write-in candidate Thomas Barrett. Incumbent Councilman Joe Malloy is challenged by former mayor Clay Larkin, and Lynn Borders is facing Barry Rubin for the council seat that is being vacated by Councilman Skip Hissong.

• Voters who reside in the Eastside Fire District will also be selecting one fire commissioner between Keith Botai and Philip Noel.

• Mica Kidd Island Fire will elect two commissioners. Michael Arhutick is challenging James Smith for the sub-district one seat, and Gretchen Hauser is challenging Chris Shelton for the sub-district two seat.

• Voters living in the Timberlake Fire District will have an option to vote for Byron Burrow or Neil Peck for fire commissioner. However, Peck has dropped out of the race and requested to be removed from the ballot, but they had already been printed.

• Voters living in Spirit Lake Fire’s jurisdiction will elect one fire commissioner. Chuck Hodge will face Mike Sexsmith for that position. Gary Ventress is running unopposed for city council in Spirit Lake.