OPEN COUNCIL SEAT: Allow citizens to apply

Congratulations to our next mayor, current Council member Woody McEvers. We enthusiastically support him in this position due to his consistent dedication to the City of Coeur d’Alene, his positive attitude, his ability to work well with staff, and his willingness to do the job.

When Mayor Woody takes the center seat in September, the Council seat he won in 2021 will be vacated. According to Idaho Code, he can then appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term. This appointment is made with the approval of Council. It’s our hope that this process is open, transparent, and visible to the public.

Ideally, we would like the city to promote this vacancy and provide an opportunity for all interested citizens to apply. We favor an open interview process at a televised public meeting. This is the process used by the Council in the past, as well as at North Idaho College and the CDA School District when a vacancy occurred. Candidates are asked to fill out an application and go through public interviews. If necessary, the field is narrowed. The goal is not only to be transparent, but to ensure that everyone gets a fair shake.

We want to ensure the process is never questioned as a shady, back-room deal that isn’t presented properly to the public. Woody McEvers has always shown integrity in his public service. It’s important we set our new mayor up for success and make sure no one doubts our council selection process.

It is our hope that Mayor-elect McEvers considers our concerns and those of the public. This opportunity for non-elected council selection occurs rarely in local government. Let this be an open, honest process our citizens and council can be proud of. It’s our hope that we can continue to demonstrate that we are the City of Excellence.

DAN GOOKIN

CHRISTIE WOOD

DAN ENGLISH

Coeur d’Alene City Council Members