EDITORIAL: Gratitude is armor for good leaders

Two distinct camps are cheering Coeur d’Alene Mayor Jim Hammond’s announced resignation.

One of these camps, by far the Lake City’s largest, is issuing a bittersweet but grateful thank you to this lifelong public servant. 

As mayor, Hammond will work through August before moving with wife Cyndie to Fort Collins, Colo., where they’ll be close to family and close enough to North Idaho for happy visits.

The smaller camp is cheering because of what they perceive as Hammond’s shortcomings: his refusal to play religious favorites and to ignore the attacks on people’s rights and dignity. This group resents his unflinching determination to represent all residents and visitors rather than those few who demand fealty to a brand and its brandishers.

The chorus from this camp is that of an enemy vanquished. It is as regrettable as it is embarrassing for its basis in raw ignorance.

Jim Hammond will never be confused with the egocentric blowhards who somehow capture some elected and appointed positions these days. His quiet, thoughtful and open approach to problem solving is the antidote to the toxic grandstanding that’s par for today’s political course, but it’s not appreciated by everybody.

Hammond has made enemies along the way, but then, so has every principled leader throughout history. Jim and Cyndie will head off to other mountains in the very best company.

Perhaps this is a good time to assess the state of leadership throughout Kootenai County and do two things.

First, go out of your way to thank those who rise above the rancor and the ridiculous political games because they possess the qualities — integrity, fairness, intelligence, humility — that people like Jim Hammond, Katie Blank and others have demonstrated over periods of decades.

You might be surprised how far sincere encouragement can carry a worthy public servant. These days, a kind word too often is drowned out by waves of ridicule on social media and ugly public gatherings. 

Let’s make encouragement and gratitude for outstanding public service the rule rather than the exception. If you’d like to thank Mayor Hammond, please do so: jhammond@cdaid.org

The other thing is going to take some work. 

Commit to learning as much as you can about local candidates in partisan and especially nonpartisan elections. You’ll have to put on your best waders but the muddy excursions will be worth it.

Electing outstanding leaders is the first step. Encouragement and gratitude will bring forth their eventual replacements.