Jacobson a smart choice as Cd'A's interim city administrator

Coeur d'Alene Mayor Dan Gookin is off to a good start and one of his first decisions is an important one that we like.

Gookin wants to appoint former Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson as interim city administrator. While some might see this as keeping a member of the good ole boys club going at City Hall, we see as a wise and timely choice for a city in the midst of significant transition. 

Coeur d’Alene is preparing to bid farewell to City Administrator Troy Tymesen, whose 25 years of service helped guide the city through periods of both growth and challenge. Tymesen has long provided a steady hand at City Hall, offering a voice of reason, along with sound advice and explanations during City Council meetings.

He has done well and will be missed.

In stepping into this interim role Feb. 17, Jacobson will bring not only political experience, but an understanding of how cities function, evolve and overcome obstacles.

Jacobson’s resume is strong and he is well known. Coeur d'Alene is fortunate someone with his background is available. With nearly three decades of public service in Post Falls, he offers institutional knowledge that few candidates could match. That experience matters. It matters especially now, as Coeur d’Alene faces a wave of retirements among senior staff, including leadership in police, fire and administration. 

A steady, seasoned hand can ensure continuity while the city searches for the long-term administrator who will shape Coeur d’Alene’s next chapter.

Jacobson’s own words reflect the attitude an interim administrator should bring: no agenda, no ax to grind and a clear focus on efficiency, stability and service. In a moment marked by change, that mindset is valuable.

But Gookin is also right about something else. Coeur d’Alene is not the small lakeside community it once was. With about 60,000 residents, more than 400 employees and a $151 million budget, the stakes have grown. The challenges have grown. And the solutions must grow accordingly.

“We need some fresh ideas and new faces,” Gookin said. He’s right. The city is entering a period of financial pressure and rapid development, and it cannot simply coast on past practices. New thinking is not just helpful — it is necessary. This is a place people want to live, but also one that has had to raise property taxes and borrow from the general fund to balance the budget. That can't continue. Jacobson may offer the eyes that can help determine priorities and costs.

That’s why this interim appointment works. Jacobson’s experience provides stability now, while his limited contract — expected to run through July — ensures the city can conduct a thorough search for the permanent administrator who will guide Coeur d’Alene into its future. Experience will steady the ship. Innovation must chart the course.

Coeur d’Alene has a bright future. But it must have leaders who can make tough, even unpopular, decisions to keep it on a path of prosperity.

Mayor Gookin’s choice of Ron Jacobson is a step in the right direction.