As OpenCdA reported yesterday, Mary Souza has declared her intention to file as a candidate for the office of Mayor in the 2013 Coeur d’Alene City Election.

Most people who have followed OpenCdA since its inception know that it was founded by Dan Gookin (now Councilman Dan Gookin), Mary Souza, and me.  To Dan and Mary’s credit and out of respect for the people in the community, both of them chose to withdraw from OpenCdA when they became candidates.   Mary has indicated that she will not be commenting on any of the various blogs, including OpenCdA.  In my opinion, that’s very wise.  Words written on a blog can be twisted and taken out of context.

Dan occasionally adds comments to posts here, and Mary has given me permission to reprint her email newsletters when they are distributed.

I encourage our readers to become more informed about and more involved in our local issues.  Our day-to-day lives are most affected by what goes on here rather than in Fantasyland-on-the-Potomac or even in Boise.    Given the poor quality of news coverage in Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai County, and north Idaho generally, I hope the candidates for Mayor and City Council in Coeur d’Alene will actually get out and talk with small groups in the communities.   If you’re invited to attend a group in your neighborhood, show up and don’t be afraid to make comments and ask candidates any questions about local issues that concern you.  You and I are part of this larger community, and we have something to offer.  In those personal, face-to-face settings, you’ll find that you have the ability to quickly and definitively separate the honest and competent candidates from those whose principal talent is shoveling equine feces.