Candidates to offer views at Coeur d'Alene forums
Election Day is six weeks away on Nov. 4 and local groups have organized forums to help voters meet the candidates.
Residents are invited to three events to hear where candidates stand on key issues.
Mike Bullard, of the League of Women Voters of Kootenai County, said forums like these have been a part of the agency for more than a hundred years.
“The educational forums are there to help everyone vote intelligently,” Bullard said. “It’s strictly nonpartisan.”
Candidates who sent in responses to questions posed by League of Woman Voters are shared with voters at Vote411.org.
“We offer that opportunity to everybody running, including the smaller races,” Bullard said.
• The first forum is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library and will spotlight Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene mayoral and city council races. It is presented by North Idaho Building Contractors Association and Coeur d'Alene Regional Realtors. The public is welcome.
Info: www.cdarealtors.com
• Coeur d’Alene candidates in the mayoral and city council races will be speaking at a paid forum run by the Kootenai County Republican Women Federated from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.
Those interested in attending are invited to bring questions. Entrance costs between $29 to $32 and refreshments will be provided.
Tickets: www.kcrwf.com
• The League of Women Voters of Kootenai County is hosting a free candidate forum from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Coeur d Alene Public Library.
The forum will cover the mayoral and city council races for Coeur d’Alene.
Eventgoers are asked to contact Bullard at [email protected] to be sent questions that each attending candidate will be asked to answer at the forum.
Coeur d’Alene attorney and former judge Pat Costello will be moderator.
Candidates:
• In Coeur d'Alene, there are four candidates for the mayoral seat including incumbent Mayor Woody McEvers, Councilman Dan Gookin, Debbie Loffman, and John Pulsipher, according to the Kootenai County Elections Office.
• Incumbent Amy Evans is being challenged by Jeff "Doc" Larson for Seat 2.
• Kenny Gabriel, appointed to Seat 4 earlier this year, is now running unopposed after Dylan Hughes dropped out of the race.*
• Incumbent Kiki Miller is being challenged by former Kootenai County Commissioner Bill Brooks and JD Claridge for Seat 6.
• The Post Falls mayoral race includes incumbent Ron Jacobson facing former Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug and current City Councilor Randy Westlund.
• In the race for Post Falls City Council seats, appointee Aaron Plew faces James Steffenson for Seat 2.
• Another appointee, Ryan Davis, is facing challenges from Eric Petersen and Marc Lucca for Seat 6.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot from the Kootenai County Board of Elections is Oct. 24. Early voting ends Oct. 31.
*This has been updated to reflect that Dylan Hughes has dropped out of the race for Coeur d'Alene City Council.*