Roetter running for reelection in Hayden

Matt Roetter announced he will seek reelection to the Hayden City Council Seat 1 in November.

Roetter is the current president of the Hayden City Council, a member of the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board and a member of the Hayden Urban Renewal Agency.

He has served on the Idaho Board of Medicine Medical Malpractice Prelitigation Board for nine years and served two terms on the Idaho State Republican Resolutions Committee and as GOP Kootenai County state committeeman.

"Roetter is a lifelong Republican who is a fiscal and social conservative," said a news release announcing his reelection bid.

Roetter and his wife, Karen, have lived in Hayden for 42 years and raised three daughters there. Their six grandchildren are sixth generation Idahoans. He is active in Real Life Ministries, leading a life group Bible study.

One of Roetter's high priority goals if reelected, according to the release, is to continue low-density and slow-growth with well-planned responsible development and preserving open space within Hayden. His goal is being reached based on the city of Hayden building permits. Single-family residential building permits have declined over the last four years:

2020 -139 permits

2021 - 107 permits

2022 - 59 permits

2023-present -45 permits

Also, lower density is occurring over the last four years based on residential multifamily unit permits:

2020 - 148

2021 - 72

2022 - zero

2023 to date - zero

"Roetter will strive to maintain a low levy property tax rate. Hayden has one of the lowest property tax levy rates in Idaho for a city of a similar population," the announcement said. "He will not increase property taxes and will work to shift the cost of growth to builders and developers via impact fees."

One of Roetter’s highest priorities is to reduce traffic congestion by upgrading and improving three major Hayden intersections: Hayden/Ramsey, Honeysuckle/Ramsey and Honeysuckle/Government Way.

Another goal Roetter noted is quality public safety, by protecting the health, safety and welfare of Hayden residents.

"Maintaining the feeling of being safe in Hayden and reducing speeding on our roads is critical," said the release. "He wants to accomplish this with the lightest hand of government placed upon the citizens of Hayden."

Roetter's reelection announcement listed the following accomplishments and goals:

As a member of the Hayden City Council, Roetter twice prevented the Idaho Department of Correction from building a live-in prison work-release center in the city of Hayden.

Roetter was the only council member to vote against over doubling property taxes which the public also voted down.

He was the only council member to vote against the subdivision located on Hayden Meadows soccer fields due to student safety and traffic concerns along Maple Avenue.

Roetter helped direct Hayden Urban Renewal tax dollars used to fund badly needed road improvements to alleviate traffic congestion. He did not vote to increase property taxes.

Roetter will strive to protect the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer from being damaged by development, the sole source of drinking water for over 500,000 people in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington.