Bobby Wilhelm

Age: 59

Length of residency: 59-year resident

Family: Two children

Highest level of education completed: Three years of college

Degrees held: Two associate degrees

Profession: Real estate agent/investor, formerly nine years at Dave Smith Motors as a finance manager. Inherited Bob’s 21 Club.

Civic/community service: Post Falls Historical Society

Previous political experience: First time to run for political office.

What prompted you to seek election to this position?

Running for office after I learned of the 20-year Post Falls population projection of 90,000 people. I say NO WAY! Paradise will be lost if that happens. Currently we are at about 34,000 people. Even at these numbers we have traffic jams daily, the schools are crammed, going through the grocery stores is like running a gauntlet. I want the citizens of Post Falls to visualize where they live now with a current population of 34,000, then picture that with a population of 90,000. This life, this community that we grew up in, moved here for, is the reason we call Post falls home will no longer exist.

What are three things you will work to change or improve if elected?

Land developers with their deep pockets work hand in hand with the city engineers and planners for months putting these subdivision plans together. When a Post Falls citizen has concerns and wants to voice their opinion they have no professional help and only have four minutes in front of Planning and Zoning or City Hall. The deck is stacked against Joe Citizen. I’ve been through this myself recently. They need to have an advocate to help them voice their concerns.

When a subdivision is proposed they have to give notice to any property owners within 300 feet. This needs to be changed to at least 1,000 feet so everyone concerned can voice their concerns or approval.

The current Post Falls Comprehensive Plan is being updated. I plan on being hypervigilant in making sure the city isn’t being given away to developers, leaving the citizens of Post Falls holding the bag.

What makes you the best candidate?

My family has been in Post Falls over 100 years and lived here while it was paradise with clean air, water and a bountiful landscape. They would be aghast at Post Falls turning into 90,000 people in tract houses with a sea of concrete and asphalt. My commitment isn’t political; my commitment goes all the way back to my forefathers who are buried in this town. With me on City Council I’ll be fighting for the paradise they lived in, we live in and my descendants will live in. My opponents have only been here four to six years. They don’t even know Post Falls.