Candidates file for November races
Candidates in elections throughout Kootenai County are off to the races.
The deadline for candidates to file their declarations of candidacy was 5 p.m. Friday. Voters will soon choose from among those listed here who tossed their hats into the ring, seeking to fill seats in mayoral offices, on city councils, school boards and fire district commissions.
The following candidate list is not final. Because districts have until Friday, Sept. 15 to certify the candidate filings to the Kootenai County elections office, more candidates may appear on the county’s list in the coming week.
Some races are notable in part because of who isn’t running.
Longtime Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes announced earlier this month that he won’t seek reelection. He served a four-year term on Rathdrum’s City Council, followed by 16 years as mayor. Four candidates are running for Rathdrum mayor: W. Greg Barr; John R. Lamb, Mike Hill; and Anthony Turrentine.
For the first time since 2007, Kerri Thoreson’s name won’t appear on ballots in Post Falls. Thoreson has served on the Post Falls City Council for 16 years.
“It’s been a challenge and a privilege to serve,” Thoreson said Friday. “I’m hopeful that whomever next occupies Seat 1 will have a passion for Post Falls and a respect for the responsibility the role requires.”
Candidates running for Post Falls City Council Seat 1 are: Bobby Wilhelm; James Steffensen; and Samantha Steigleder.
Scott Forssel, who was appointed Hayden mayor in 2022, announced in August that he won’t seek election. As of Friday's filing deadline, Luke Sommer is the sole candidate running for Hayden mayor.
Coeur d'Alene School District Trustee Casey Morrisroe, who has served on that school board since 2015, is not seeking reelection. It is shaping up to be a four-way race to see who fills Morrisroe's seat. Candidates who filed are: James "Jimmy" McAndrew; Yasmin Harris; Paul Mahlow; and Mike Stavish.
Complete list of candidate filings as of 5 p.m. Friday
City of Athol
Mayor: Stephen Cutaiar; Benjamin J. Ruenger; Steven Ruch
City Council Seat 1: Tammy Porter
City Council Seat 2: Jeanette Kramer
City of Coeur d’Alene
City Council Seat 1: Christie Wood; Brian D. Winkler
City Council Seat 3: Dan Gookin; Clark Albritton
City Council Seat 5: Dan English; Roger Garlock; Victoria Slater; Rob Knutson
City of Dalton Gardens
Mayor: Ray Craft; Dan Edwards; Curt Jernigan
City Council (2 seats): Justin Rupinski; Gary Sonnen; Susan Jean Supp; Robert Wuest
City of Fernan Lake Village
Mayor: Ray Watkins
City Council Seat 1: Jim Goodsen
City Council Seat 2: Jim Myers; Heidi Acuff
City Council Seat 3: Monica Noce; Zach Dircksen
City of Harrison
City Council (3 seats): Russell Riberich; John Gray; Diana Lea John; Vincent Wilcox; Will Butler; Wayne Godsby; Brett Murdock; Charlie Shutt
City of Hauser
Mayor: Bill Ray
City Council Seat 1: Jeff Hoerner
City Council Seat 3: Alice Pomykala
City Council Seat 4: Daniel W. Finley
City of Hayden
Mayor: Luke Sommer
City Council Seat 1: Matt Roetter
City Council Seat 3: Roger D. Saterfiel
City of Hayden Lake
Mayor: Lee Zink
City Council Seat 1: Geffrey W. Thompson
City Council Seat 4: Davis Weinstein
City of Huetter
Mayor: Bradley W. Keene
City of Post Falls
City Council Seat 1: Bobby Wilhelm; James Steffensen; Samantha Steigleder
City Council Seat 3: Joe Malloy; Kyle Storm; Rita Anderson
City Council Seat 5: Joe Bodman; Randy Westlund; Cherilyn K Towne
City of Rathdrum
Mayor: W. Greg Barr; John R Lamb; Mike Hill; Anthony Turrentine
City Council Seat 2: Larry Sanders; Steven Adams; Molly Bauer
City Council Seat 4: John Hatcher
City of State Line
City Council (2 seats): Henry D. Heidecker; Justin Veo
City of Worley
Mayor: Patricia Templin
City Council (2 seats): William W. Waddell; Zachary P. Sifford
Fire District Commissioners
East Side Fire District
Sub District 2: Loren Nelson
Hauser Lake Fire Protection District
Sub District 1: Bruce Van Hoorn
Sub District 2: Andrea Maddalone
Kootenai Fire and Rescue
Sub District 2: Andy Boyle
Sub District 4: Pam Houser; Tommy LaPonsey
Mica Kidd Island Fire Protection District
Sub District 1: Steven Isaacson
Sub District 2: Doug Kinsey
Northern Lakes Fire Protection District
Sub District 4: James C. Washko
Spirit Lake Fire Protection District
Sub District 1: David Esterly
Sub District 3: Dan Meliza
Timberlake Fire Protection District
Sub District 1: Jeffrey L. Wilkins
Sub District 3: Jeff Priest
Worley Fire Protection District
Sub District 1: Robert Wienclaw
School District Trustees
Coeur d'Alene School District #271
Trustee Zone 2: James "Jimmy" McAndrew; Yasmin Harris; Paul Mahlow; Mike Stavish
Trustee Zone 3: Heather Tenbrink; Matt Blatt; Jeremy DeChaine
Lakeland Joint School District #272
Trustee Zone 1: Randi Bain; Kyle Olmstead
Trustee Zone 2: Thomas "T.J." Barnhart; Ramona Grissom; Cherish Hansen
Trustee Zone 3: Sheila Holfeltz; Michelle Thompson
Post Falls School District #273
Trustee Zone 2: Paul R. Wagner
Trustee Zone 3: Sara Rodriguez; Eric Klinkhammer
Kootenai Joint School District #274
Trustee Zone 2: Angie McCreavy; Jonathon (Jon) E. Verkist
Trustee Zone 3: Amy Myers