Kenny Gabriel: 'The luckiness of our lives'

Since he retired as Coeur d’Alene’s fire chief in 2022, Kenny Gabriel has enjoyed the good life. 

By that, he means traveling with wife Wendy, hanging out with grandchildren, taking care of his “honey-do” list and spending time at his Coeur d’Alene River property. 

Sounds pretty good.

Then, in August came an unexpected opportunity to become a member of the Coeur d’Alene City Council. There was an opening after Mayor Jim Hammond resigned and Councilor Woody McEvers became mayor.

Gabriel went for it. 

“When opportunity comes, you have to seize it,” he said. 

He did. After some interviews and other steps in the process, he joined the City Council in October. 

“I think it’s an opportunity I got lucky to do,” he said

Gabriel, who served 20 years as fire chief, found himself missing public service after giving it up. Not the stress, but the interaction with firefighters, staff and citizens. 

“Every time I hear a siren, I still kind of look out the window,” he said. 

When he was fire chief, Gabriel went to hundreds of meetings. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to. 

“I liked knowing what was going on in the community, not just what was going on in my little piece of the world,” he said. “What better way to do that than being on the council.” 

So now that he's been in that seat for two meetings, and the one he'll hold through 2025, what does he think? 

He likes it. 

Gabriel, humble and gracious with a big smile to go with his 6-foot, 4-inch frame, is honored to be on the council. 

“I think I’m going to like it even more than I thought I would,” he said. 

Gabriel thought perhaps he should keep quiet when he joined the council and defer to the longtime members, Dan Gookin, Christie Wood, Dan English, Kiki Miller and Amy Evans. While they encouraged him to listen and learn, they also urged him to speak up. 

“Everybody on the council is like ‘Get after it,’" Gabriel said. “They absolutely want you to be part of things.” 

He admires his fellow councilors.

“They're up there for the right reasons,” Gabriel said.  

Coming from a firefighting career, Gabriel hopes to focus on public safety, which he said is “always near and dear to my heart and it’s what I know best."

He said he wants to be an advocate for citizens and staff. 

“I wish people knew the time and energy the staff put into running the city. It’s not something they just do from 8 to 5," he said.

While some might argue being on the City Council is a responsibility Gabriel doesn’t need, especially considering his retirement is secure and grandchildren are nearby, he sees it differently.

In fact, Gabriel said he feels fortunate to be given another chance to serve the city he loves.

"The heart of our community is the people," he said.

Gabriel started with Coeur d'Alene's fire department as a volunteer in 1984. He later worked for three years as a firefighter in the Silver Valley before returning as a full-time Coeur d’Alene fireman in 1991. 

In 2002 he was named fire chief, a role he seemed destined for.

“You don’t pick the fire service,” he said. “It picks you.” 

Gabriel, who has coached wresting and baseball, takes pride in knowing Coeur d’Alene has a history of supporting bonds and levies. 

“Aren't we lucky to live in a community that takes care of itself? Just the vibe our community has, I think it’s unique," he said.

Gabriel looks younger than the 61 years old that he is. He has a youthful, energetic exuberance and stays fit with frequent walks on the North Idaho Centennial Trail next to Lake Coeur d’Alene. 

He said grandchildren, along with the simple act of walking outside, keep him healthy and positive.

He refers to “the luckiness of our lives” when talking about Coeur d’Alene.

“We have an enormous amount to be positive about,” he said.