DePriest, Erickson win in Hayden

Election Day races were held Tuesday across the smaller municipalities of North Idaho, from Athol to Worley.

HAYDEN CITY COUNCIL

Incumbent Ed DePriest won Hayden City Council Seat 2 with 1,777 votes, 61%, versus Luke Sommer with 1,121 votes, 39%. 

Earlier on Tuesday, challenger David Erickson had noted he was cautiously optimistic about the race against incumbent Sandy White for Hayden City Council Seat 4. Erickson won with 1,708 votes, 59%, to 1,187 votes, 41%, for White. 

“Voters made it clear they want steady leadership and responsible growth, and I’m ready to get to work with the council to make that happen,” Erickson said.    

Erickson thanked White for her years of service to Hayden and stated he was humbled and honored by the support and grateful for the chance to serve the city. 

White stated she had been prayerfully awaiting the results from the race. 

“I’d like to say thank you to all of the voters in Hayden who took the time to vote for the City Council positions and to participate in our constitutional republic,” White said.    

HAYDEN LAKE CITY COUNCIL

For Hayden Lake City Council Seat 2, Incumbent Dan Baker was ousted by Kurt Lyon, 107 votes, 45% to 133 votes, 55%. 

Lyon pledged to “be transparent and model personal integrity in all matters of the people's business” for the residents of Hayden Lake. 

“My first order of business is to express my heartfelt appreciation to my family and neighbors that encouraged and supported my candidacy,” Lyon said. 

He extended thanks to Baker for his years of service to the city and cited a more grassroots, door-to-door campaign approach for the race. 

The three-way race for Hayden Lake City Council Seat 3 resulted in Kathleen Collins winning over incumbent Debbie Morris and challenger Joann Halbrecht. Collins received 119 votes, 49%, Halbrecht received 75 votes, 31%, and Morris received 47 votes, 20%. 

Halbrecht said the “encouragement, conversations and friendship” she received while running for office “meant the world” to her. 

“I ran because I care deeply about Hayden Lake and its future, and that commitment won’t change,” Halbrecht said. “Congratulations to my opponent on her victory. I hope we can all continue to work together to protect the character, safety, and beauty of our community.” 

RATHDRUM CITY COUNCIL

Incumbent John Hodgkins will retain his position as the Seat 3 representative on the Rathdrum City Council. 

Hodgkins received 1,112, 65.8%, votes. Opponents Reneé Mullen and Destiny Whitehead received 332, 19.6%. and 246 (14.5%. votes, respectively.

Hodgkins was first elected in 2021 and has previously stated that he plans to prioritize “managing growth while preserving Rathdrum’s rural character and affordability” in his second term.

Hodgkins has been known to raise questions in recent council meetings in relation to housing developments in the city, including the 71-lot Meyer Meadows First Addition and the nearly 500-lot subdivision planned for the Arestad property.

Hodgkins could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Kenneth Owens, who was appointed to Seat 1 in February, will also continue his role as councilor. Owens ran unopposed for this seat. 

SPIRIT LAKE MAYOR

Charlene Phipps has been elected mayor of Spirit Lake. 

Phipps secured the victory with 325 votes, 52.1%, beating out incumbent Jeremy Cowperthwaite, who received 47 votes, 7.5%, votes. Two other candidates, Allen Tesky and Jack Edmenson, received 238, 38.2%, and 13, 2%, votes, respectively.

“I am extremely grateful for the support and backing of the citizens of Spirit Lake,” Phipps said. “I will represent all the residents of our city. Through hard work and the support of community, I see a city that will thrive.” 

Phipps currently serves on the Spirit Lake City Council and the Community Coalition. As mayor, she intends to reopen the public comment period during monthly council meetings and foster “an open-door policy” with residents.

Phipps’ victory will bring about the conclusion of Cowperthwaite’s four years as mayor. 

“As I’ve been saying all along: God is always good,” he said. “I was running to serve people, primarily the great staff that works for the city behind the scenes — (the ones) really running the show.”  

SPIRIT LAKE CITY COUNCIL

Terry L. Moore and incumbent Darrell Woods have been elected to the Spirit Lake City Council. 

Moore received 418 (39.58%) votes, while Woods followed with 260 (24.62%) votes. 

Moore has served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission as well as the Community Coalition, while Woods has been on city council for the past four years. 

Moore has previously said he intends to address issues with the city’s infrastructure and water and sewer moratorium.  

During his next term, Woods has previously said his focus will be on “budget shortfalls, (encouraging) collaboration among administration (and) council, and seeking grants when addressing the city’s spending.” 

ATHOL CITY COUNCIL

Incumbents Cindi Devine and Shane McDaniel both retained their seats on city council.

Devine received 34 votes (40%) for Seat 3. Opponents Mark Dane and Holly Blackwell received 31 (36.47%) and 20 (23.53%) votes, respectively.  

McDaniel received 50 (54.35%) votes to secure Seat 4 — only eight votes more than his opponent, Broderick Pellow, who congratulated the incumbent as election results came in.  

“I may have failed to prevail, but I am still dedicated to (reforming) the city code and advocacy for that end,” Pellow said. “I want to thank all those who supported me and my candidacy, as well as all those who didn't. Voting is one of the most important rights that we enjoy, and I doubly thank everyone who showed up today to vote." 

McDaniel could not be reached for comment.  

FERNAN LAKE VILLAGE CITY COUNCIL SEAT 1

Jim Goodsen came out on top as he received 49 votes (66.22%) in the race for Fernan Lake City Council Seat 1 while opponent Heidi Acuff received 25 votes (33.78%).

HARRISON MAYOR

Harrison Mayor Wanda Irish will continue to serve as the city's leader after securing 46 votes in a tight race with John Gray and Joseph Tumbarello. Irish received 38.33% of the vote. Gray secured 40 votes (33.33%). Tumbarello received 34 votes (28.33%).

HARRISON CITY COUNCIL

T.J. Byrne, Kelly Kilian and Josephine Prophet have been elected to the Harrison City Council. Byrne won the votes of 88 community members, or 27.24%; Kilian secured 75 votes, or 23.22%; and 58 votes (17.96%) were cast for Prophet.

WORLEY CITY COUNCIL

Richard Wienclaw and Keith Gilbert will serve on the Worley City Council. Wienclaw received 16 votes (44.44%) while Gilbert received 13 votes (36.11%). A third candidate, Mark Anthony Portanova, received seven votes.

STATELINE MAYOR

Incumbent Stateline Mayor Keith Warner will maintain office after defeating opponent Brian Wilson at the polls. Warner garnered nine votes for 75% of the vote while Wilson received 25% with three votes.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Commissioner Sub District 3   

Jon Hoffman won over Shawn Smidt for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Commissioner Subdistrict Three, 6,158 votes, 69% to 2,757 votes, 31%.

Northern Lakes Fire Protection District Commissioner Sub District 3   

Stewart J. Kuespert won Northern Lakes Fire District Commissioner Subdistrict Three over Bill Deruyter, with 3,669 votes, 52% to 3,379 votes, 48%.

Shoshone County Fire District NO. 2 Commissioner Sub District 3   

In the Shoshone County Fire District Commissioner Sub District Three, Gary Yergler received 121 votes, 58% in Kootenai County and 720 votes, 72% in Shoshone County.

Jeffrey Passer received 88 votes, 42% from Kootenai County voters and 271 votes, 27% for Shoshone County.

This is a multi-county race with Kootenai and Shoshone counties. As of press time, full Shoshone results were not available.

Timberlake Fire Protection District Commissioner Sub District 2   

In the Timberlake Fire District Commissioner Sub District Two race, Jason Charter received 299 votes, 28% for Kootenai County and eight votes, 57% for Bonner County. 

Oden Olson received 600 votes, 56% for Kootenai County and five votes, 36% for Bonner County. 

Kerry Kieres received 171 votes, 16% for Kootenai County and one vote, 7% for Bonner County. 

This is a multi-county race with Kootenai and Bonner counties.

Timberlake Fire Protection District Commissioner Sub District 4   

For the Commissioner Sub District Four race for Timberlake Fire Protection District, Matt Church received 764 votes, 72% for Kootenai County and eight votes, 62% for Bonner County.  

Jim Morrow received 304 votes, 28% in Kootenai County and five votes, 38% in Bonner County.  

This is a multi-county race with Kootenai and Bonner counties.

    DePriest