Observations from someone who's been there
A decade ago, I was a candidate for mayor in Post Falls. Spoiler alert: I was first runner-up. At that time, I was in the middle of serving my second term on the city council. Since we’re currently in the homestretch of Election 2023, this memory of that time, which Facebook reminded me of, seems particularly fitting.
“One week to go, just seven days left after nearly 4 months of engaging on the campaign trail. It's been all consuming, exhilarating, educational and not without brief fleeting moments of discouragement and disillusion. I recall a few years ago when my sisters, my daughters and I did Bloomsday for the first time and how overjoyed I was to conquer Doomsday Hill and see the Milepost 7 sign. While we crossed the finish line as individuals it was definitely the teamwork that saw us through each step along the way. That experience mirrors a campaign ... I'll cross the finish line on election day but not alone. Each of you who's been there with me, extending support in a variety of ways, believing in my goal and in my abilities, will be along for the journey. The single most important thing this week and on election day is your vote, your friends' votes, your neighbor's vote.”
This observation is true this last week for all of the candidates on the ballot in our communities. Voting is the most important thing.
In 2023, I’m in the homestretch of my fourth, and final, four-year term on the city council, having chosen not to run for re-election. Any way you slice it, 16 years is a good run. From that perspective, here’s another bit of advice to those who will be elected next week and sworn into office in January ... never have I referred to Seat 1 as "my" seat. From my first day, I was respectful of the fact that that seat then and always belonged to the citizens of Post Falls, I was occupying it because of them. I didn’t represent only the people who voted for me but all citizens. As will you.
The decisions are often difficult and you will not have the pleasure of making any that please everyone. If humility, grace and respect accompany all of the newly elected and reelected when they take office in January 2024, we’ll be well served.
As for Post Falls, I’m hopeful that whomever next occupies Seat 1 will have a passion for Post Falls and respect for the responsibility the role requires.
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Election Day is the longest day for candidates. You’ve done all you can do, left it all on the field, as the saying goes. Now your fate is in the hands of the voters. The reality is the final tabulating won’t be complete until the wee hours Nov. 8. I suggest having dinner and a nap when the polls close on election night because you’re not going to want to go to bed until you know the outcome.
It’s an incredibly important and courageous endeavor to run for public office. I applaud you all!
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Happy first day of November birthdays today to Brandon Burchfield, Randy Martens, Bernice Dymek and Pam Jank. Tomorrow, Alex Capaul, Mike Miller, Alan Zerba, Charity Thompson and Kathleen Lazor take another trip around the sun. On Friday, Patty Harris, Jill Jurvelin, Hara Allison, Karen Pearl, Darin Hanson, Helen Nuener, Jerry Mason and Kelly Tuntland blow out the candles. On Saturday, Alan Wolfe, Annie Mote, Bryan Poland, Judy Jorgensen, Kirsten Donovan, Nancy White, Mic Armon, Julie Schmidt, twins Zachary and Ryan Englebrecht and Mitchell Copstead put on their party hats. On Sunday, Betty Bray-Baker, Laura Gray, Donna Hodgson, Marijo Guindon, Debbie Boe, Heather Clark, Ken Brandvold and Marci Anderson will eat cake. Anna Rolphe, Joe Lenon, Laura Gray, and Kim Wilhelm celebrate Monday. On Nov. 7, Rocky Watson, Jonesy Paul, Maggie Lyons, Tracy Akerman, John Williams, Mike Dornquast, Lauren Dornquast and Harold Howard will also be doing the birthday dance.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.