MY TURN: Good leaders, not power seekers

The city of Coeur d’Alene is not broken; it is running well. Yet, many of us dislike, even hate, government. The intent of public service is to improve our lives. Seeking elected office, a chance to lead often appeals to the least among us. We often elect people who have no concept of how our government is intended to run.

Local government provides the services we need. City services start when we turn on the water to shower in the morning, flush the toilet, take out the trash, drive down the road, stop for people in crosswalks, watch for traffic lights to turn green, park in a public space and walk along any sidewalk to our jobs. The local police patrol the streets, fire rescue waits in the ready, our trash is collected and our streets are plowed. This is what cities do. Our lake frontage lands are overwhelmingly public land from Tubbs Hill, McEuen Park, City Park and along through NIC. The city is nearly built out, so those anti-growth advocates must be looking toward the prairie or other parts of Kootenai County, not Cd'A. Our city works well under our mayor and council. Candidates criticizing our city services are simply not paying attention.

The mayor/council form is a representative system with power concentrated in the elected council. The council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services. 90% of the cities in the U.S. use this form which emphasize the professional manager style, and it is the usual form of municipal government used in Idaho.

In Coeur d’Alene, the mayor is an ambassador for the city both with the community overall and the city administration. The mayor’s job is to build consensus. His voting power is mostly limited to being a tie breaker not unlike our vice president during a Senate vote. The city manager is the CEO, not the mayor. The mayor leads the City Council meeting and assumes a policy making role. The daily operations of the city are delegated to the city administrator, appointed by the council and responsible to the city council. The city administrator provides leadership and oversight of the city departments.

Taxes are always what the least-prepared candidates cling to when running for office. In Cd'A, the effective property tax rate is 0.39%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02% and lower than the Idaho rate of 0.42%. In effect, our city is running both efficiently and effectively under the current council and city administration. If people are seeking office now, they must not simply complain but explain how they will improve it and why.

Multiple reasons are given by candidates for seeking to replace our current council. Where are concerns for better education and business expansion? Affordable housing is an issue one of the current council members works tirelessly on. The least practical claim is the call for a stronger mayor to take better control of city staff. Our mayor and commissioners need to work together with the city staff in conjunction with the city manager. Working together, setting the city policy to be implemented by the manager, is the job which requires leadership and professionalism.

When I read about candidates seeking election, I wonder if they understand our government form. Neither the mayor nor the council can act independently. This form of government is intended to create a consensus. We do not have, nor do we need, a Chicago under Mayor Daley type of government. If our candidates do not understand our form of government, the voters must. City elections are nonpartisan. There is not a Republican or Democratic way to pave a street or collect trash. Please choose candidates who understand the limits and capabilities of their job and are not simply looking for power. Any city needs a leader, not a boss. Remember, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

• • •

Phil Ward is a Coeur d'Alene resident.