Winkler announces bid for Cd'A City Council seat

Brian Winkler announced his candidacy for Coeur d’Alene City Council Seat 1.

“As a former NCAA athlete, veteran officer of the United States Marine Corps, technology professional and current host on the Idaho Speaks podcast — a conservative podcast on local political issues – I am well positioned for this leadership role in the city,” Winkler said in a news release. “I am motivated to run because I love Coeur d’Alene and want to preserve its small-town charm, welcoming atmosphere and respect for individual freedom.”

He said his platform is focused on three core issues: slow growth, fiduciary responsibility and “the celebration of traditional American family values.”

Growth accommodation can be accomplished more responsibly and transparently, Winkler said in the release.

“Housing growth cannot outpace infrastructure growth. Coeur d'Alene homeowners should be able to trust that the city council has their best interests at heart, and that it isn’t sleepwalking into a high density nightmare,” Winkler said. “First, we should reform the current planning and zoning process so that the city council is more accountable for approvals on big projects. As the key interface with the public, the elected council must be more than just a rubber stamp for committee decisions.”

The city council must also “authentically engage” with the community for feedback on comprehensive planning, he said, “rather than relying on 501(c) ‘dark money’ and other special interest organizations.”

“Finally, we must take a more proactive approach to disincentivize unwanted influence from non-local institutions and outside corporate capital, which can manipulate markets and undermine the natural character of our neighborhoods,” Winkler said in the release.

Regarding fiduciary responsibility, Winkler said: “You can trust I will manage taxpayer money wisely.”

“When it comes to taxes and budgets, I believe that citizens are the best stewards of their own money. In my day job, all investments require a return on investment (ROI) analysis and the same should be done with taxpayer dollar expenditures,” he said in the release. “On property taxes, the city should not be increasing the tax burden on residents during these inflationary times. This is unfair to homeowners whose budgets are increasingly stretched, especially senior citizens who rely on a fixed income to make ends meet.”

If residents are forced to stretch their dollars and do more with less, the city should as well, he said.

“We should preserve the innocence of children, and support for the nuclear family should be an unquestioned cornerstone of our community,” Winkler said regarding family values.

He said he grew up in a Christian community, had a supportive family, played sports and never worried about the safety of his environment.

“The library was filled with the classics that made this country great and wasn’t simply an exhibition of the latest woke trend,” Winkler said in the release. “Children could play and see each other’s smiling faces without the looming threat of unscientific mask mandates. This used to be common sense but increasingly it’s something for which we have to fight.”

He said that during the campaign he will continue meeting with Coeur d’Alene community members to listen to their concerns and make sure their voices are heard.