Meckel to seek county seat

Rathdrum Republican Fred Meckel announced he'll seek the Kootenai County commission seat currently held by Dan Green.

Green earlier announced he will not seek re-election in the May 17 primary election. Meckel will seek the seat for District 3, which is in the north-central part of the county.

Meckel has served on the Rathdrum City Council for the past eight years. He recently started serving on Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization, is a member of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee and serves on a group that is planning how the city of Rathdrum’s property on Rathdrum Mountain should be developed.

"I’ve had several people ask me to run for (the county seat)," Meckel said.

Meckel said he mulled the idea and, after meeting with Green and fellow Commissioner Marc Eberlein last week, he decided to run.

"I believe my experience and education would be a benefit for Kootenai County," he said.

Meckel has a bachelor's degree in psychology from American Military University and a master's degree in social work from Boise State University. He works as a mental health therapist for ACES Community Services in Post Falls.

Meckel said he has experience on the Rathdrum City Council with land-use matters and budgeting — areas he would also tackle on the Kootenai County board.

“I’m known for listening to both sides and not being abrasive or confrontational," he said. "I will work to bridge the gap between government and the citizens of Kootenai County and create real progress toward our future.

"The county has a lot of hard choices and difficult decisions such as the jail, employee pay raises and multiple land-use decisions ahead of them. We need someone who can look at the numbers, listen to the citizens and make hard choices."

Meckel said he and his wife spent six years volunteering for a Christmas performance at Betty Kiefer Elementary in Rathdrum. He served on active duty with the Idaho National Guard for five years and spent one year in Iraq.

Meckel's family moved here in 1988. He has lived in Rathdrum since 2002.

Candidates can officially file for candidacy for commission board seats for the primary from Feb. 29 through March 11.

Republicans Leslie Duncan and Bob Bingham earlier announced they'll also seek Green's seat.

Republican incumbent David Stewart also earlier announced he'll re-seek his seat for District 2, which includes the southern part of the county, areas around Lake Coeur d'Alene and most of Coeur d'Alene.