Gookin announces Cd'A City Council run

COEUR d'ALENE — Dan Gookin has announced his plans for reelection to the Coeur d’Alene City Council.

“Four years ago, I campaigned on protecting the character and charm of Coeur d’Alene, preserving established neighborhoods and holding the line on government spending. When reelected, I shall continue to prioritize these objectives,” Gookin said, in a news release.

Gookin makes it his goal, the release said, to speak on behalf of the public, “especially those citizens who feel ignored by the power brokers and insiders. His desire is to be a voice of common sense on the Council and not to be a rubber stamp.”

“I do my homework,” he said.

Gookin noted that with the chaos at North Idaho College, promoted by the local Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC): “It’s important that we keep extremist partisan politics out of no-partisan offices. My record shows that I put the public first, not right-wing ideology. The people of Coeur d’Alene don’t want to see City Hall infected by the destruction, illegal meetings, overspending and acrimony happening now at NIC.”

The announcement notes that “Gookin knows the competition will be fierce. The KCRCC has raised over $300,000 specifically to target nonpartisan elections this year. The city of Coeur d’Alene is their holy grail.”

“The Central Committee has a target on my back, as well as Christie Wood’s,” said Gookin. “I feel the public desires stability and will reject the cronyism and obedience to Brent Regan’s frantic dystopia.”

To help fend off the Central Committee, Gookin supports Christie Wood’s candidacy and plans on running as a team.

“I believe we represent what’s best with American politics,” Gookin said. “Christie and I are friends who can disagree on policy yet remain friends. Our goals are the same: To do what’s best for all the citizens of Coeur d’Alene.”

For the next four years, Gookin wants the Short Term (Vacation) Rental ordinance completed. He would like to see parking downtown provided by developers and height restrictions on the buildings.

“Density is necessary to accommodate growth, but we must be careful where to put it without impacting the established neighborhoods or overburdening our infrastructure,” he said, in the release.

In addition to supporting first responders, fire and police, Gookin wants to see more effort made to maintain city streets.

“We can’t get behind the curve,” he said.

“Coeur d’Alene has traditionally been a welcoming community where everyone is valued,” Gookin said, in the release. “This election is about our future and whether we continue in the spirit of this city, or we follow the KCRCC and descend to disunity, vitriol and dysfunction. I believe the wise voters of Coeur d’Alene will choose the former.”

Gookin has been a Kootenai county resident since 1993. He moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2002. He was first elected to the Coeur d’Alene City Council in 2011. Dan is a self-employed author and online trainer. In 1991, he wrote the bestseller "DOS For Dummies," which is the foundation for the entire For Dummies series.