'We all know he’s quality'

The Coeur d’Alene City Council is complete once again. 

Retired fire chief Kenny Gabriel was unanimously approved by a 4-0 vote and took the oath of office for Council Seat No. 4 on Tuesday night in the Library Community Room before about 50 people.

Councilor Dan Gookin caught people by surprise when, asked if he wanted to comment, he said with a serious look, “I must say I’m disappointed.” 

Gookin paused just long enough to let it register, then added, “Normally when we do these things, we have cake. I asked for cake,” he said. “And there’s still no cake.” 

Gabriel, after posing with family for pictures, quickly went to work, taking his seat for a meeting with a long agenda. He will serve through 2026.   

His wife, former city administrator Wendy Gabriel, said her husband served the city nearly four decades in the fire department, including 22 as fire chief before retiring in 2022. 

“He's missing it. This is great for him, and he wants to continue to contribute,” she said. 

The laughs that followed Gookin’s comment put a finishing touch on a two-month process to find a new councilor, made necessary when then mayor Jim Hammond resigned, effective Sept. 1, and longtime councilor Woody McEvers was voted in to fill the post through 2025. 

Gabriel was McEvers' first choice to fill his vacant seat. But his nomination in August fell short when Gookin, Christie Wood and Dan English voted no, deadlocking the council. They called for a more transparent process that involved the public.   

The city later issued a call for citizens to apply for the council seat, and seven did. Three, including Gabriel, past city finance director John Austin and sign company owner Jeff Connaway, were interviewed by City Council members last week.

Councilor Wood said she was pleased with how the process pulled the council together and gave members a chance to meet applicants and ask questions. 

“We all know Kenny. We all know he’s quality,” she said. “Still, it was a good process. It was good for us. I think it was good for citizens and, hopefully, it was good for Kenny."

Councilor Dan English was absent from Tuesday's meeting.