Fire district candidates seek seats

Three fire districts will have races for commission seats in Tuesday's election.

The Mica Kidd Island Fire District has two seats up for grabs. Sub-district 1 incumbent James Smith is being challenged by Michael Arhutick.

Chris Shelton and Gretchen Hauser are seeking the Sub-district 2 seat. Incumbent J. Kelso Lindsay withdrew from the race on Sept. 18.

In the East Side Fire District, Philip Noel and Keith Botai are seeking the Sub-district 2 seat.

Spirit Lake's Sub-district 3 seat is up for grabs as incumbent Chuck Hodge is being challenged by Mike Sexsmith.

Two names are on the ballot for Timberlake's Sub-district 1 seat. Byron Burrow is seeking the seat. Neil Peck requested to the district that he wanted to withdraw from the race, but he did not make the request prior to the Sept. 18 deadline so his name is still on the ballot, district officials said.

Here's a look at the candidates in the three districts with races:

MICA KIDD ISLAND

James Smith, a retired contractor who has lived in the district for 10 years, was appointed to Sub-district 1 seat a year and a half ago and believes the experience would help him continue to represent the district.

Smith considers himself a fiscal conservative.

"I am rational, passionate about the fire service, levelheaded and look at both sides of the issues," he said. "I have a background in business and have helped open communications with the community."

Smith said a station and equipment in the south end of the growing district is needed.

"I will continue to work on this in a fiscally responsible manner," he said.

Smith's challenger, Mike Arhutick, is a retired businessman who has been a resident of the district for 25 years and previously served on the board for seven years.

He said he's been asked by some residents to return.

"Recent budgetary proposals have shown some members of the current board do not have the taxpayers in mind," he said.

Arhutick said his previous experience would be valuable.

"My goal as a commissioner is to provide proper equipment for our volunteers to safely perform their duties and protect our residents," he said. "I support more communication between the board, the volunteers and the residents. Fiscal responsibility without raising taxes is very important to our taxpayers."

As a founding commissioner, Arhutick said he was instrumental in the district acquiring two new fire trucks, writing the budgets, ensuring taxes were used properly and outfitting volunteers with proper equipment.

In the race for the Sub-district 2 seat, Chris Shelton, senior project manager for Young Construction Group of Idaho, has lived in the district 27 years.

He believes more planning is needed in the district.

"I believe the board has been making some reactionary decisions lately, and I believe there needs to be some short- and long-term planning," he said. "We need to know what we need, when we need it and how we are going to manage the budget to acquire what we need."

Shelton said the district's budget has not kept pace with the needs of the district.

"However, in spite of that, we have managed," he said. "We desperately need a long-range plan."

Shelton said his construction experience of more than 20 years has required the need to manage projects from $50,000 to $28 million.

"What I can bring to the board is leadership, integrity and a vision for the future," he said.

Gretchen Hauser, Shelton's opponent, is the accounting manager for a structural engineer firm.

Hauser, who has lived in the district for seven years, has 18 years of experience volunteering on commissions. She has served as a parks and recreation commissioner for 13 years and as a solid waste and recycling commissioner for five.

"Through these volunteer positions I have experience setting governmental policies, overseeing budgets and working with the community to find a common ground on the issues," she said.

Hauser said there has been a loss of trust with the fire board in the past 18 months.

"Having attended most of the (district) meetings during that time, I am involved and informed as to what has been going on within the department," she said.

Hauser said there has been talk about buying property for a new station and training facility.

"I feel this would be a want and not a need," she said. "There are other options that would enable the district to provide needed services without the excessive tax burden this would cause.

"The station we have now can be improved over time, and there are other training facilities in the area that can be utilized as opposed to building a large, unneeded facility in the heart of our rural community."

Hauser said the volunteer department recently requested funds for another paid employee, yet turned away seven of 14 citizens who submitted applications to volunteer.

"We need to encourage more volunteer possibilities and offer them appropriate training," she said.

EAST SIDE

Noel and Botai are seeking the district's Sub-district 2 seat.

Noel said he has the time to dedicate to the district since he is retired with a background in engineering.

"I have the time and interest to focus on the planning, management, technical and administrative issues of the district," he said. "I also have experience dealing with local and state regulatory agencies as I have recently served as president of a homeowners association in connection with required projects and operating business."

Noel said East Side has solid leadership and the board has been professional and progressive.

"I expect that, as the district becomes more populated and service calls increase, East Side will face increasing pressure for long-term planning and the means to provide staff, equipment and facilities," he said. "I believe I can be of service in these and in other activities that support the vital services already provoked while at the same time prepare for increased capacity for the future."

Botai, property maintenance manager for McCathren Management, has been an alternate fire commissioner for more than two years and has been a firefighter for five. He also volunteers with Harrison Ambulance.

"I understand the needs of the fire department's men and women," he said. "I am one of them."

Botai said his knowledge as a purchasing agent and experience as a firefighter would help ensure the district's facilities and equipment remain updated and within the budget.

Botai said he has lived in the district five years and joined the fire department soon after he moved there.

"I believe at least one of the three commissioners should have hands-on experience as a member of the fire department," he said. "It's this experience that will guide us in our decisions as a fire commissioner."

SPIRIT LAKE

Sexsmith is challenging Hodge for the district's Sub-district 3 seat.

Sexsmith, a support engineer for an information technology firm, said he believes equipment and personnel needs in the district are not being addressed.

He said his priorities would be to find ways to keep firefighters within the district longer and explore funding equipment needs.

"I believe that these problems can be solved by working in tandem with the two other commissioners in more creative ways than what have been used in the past," he said.

Sexmith, who has lived in the district six years, spent 30 years in the medical field, including as a nuclear medicine technologist and as an EMT. Having spent seven years in the Army, including time as a combat medic, Sexsmith said he understands the courage and stress involved in being a firefighter or EMT.

Hodge has lived in Blanchard for 38 years and served as a volunteer fireman for the district for 13 years. He has been a fire commissioner since 2004 and has owned and operated his own business called Apex Office Systems for 24 years.

Hodge said he believes his experience in the district would help it continue to move forward in a responsible manner.

His community involvement has included the Spirit Lake Lions Club, Blanchard First Responders, Blanchard Grange, Blanchard Lions Club and Blanchard Area Seniors.