Why would City Attorney Mike Gridley go on the attack once again? His candidates won the election, albeit by tiny, embarrassing margins: 5 votes for one and only 29 votes for another. Hardly comfortable margins. Mike Gridley is rumored to be threatening legal action against a contributor to challenger Jim Brannon’s campaign for what Gridley says is a possible contribution violation. (more…)
November 8, 2009
Gridley on the Attack…Again?
SLAPP Revisited
In March 2006 I posted Can Bloggers Be SLAPPed? in my Whitecaps weblog.
SLAPP is an acronym for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. A SLAPP suit is a meritless lawsuit filed to intimidate people. It is intended to stifle both free speech and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.
Many states have passed anti-SLAPP legislation. Idaho has not. The attitude of some Idaho legislators is that such legislation isn’t necessary because there have been no SLAPP suits filed in Idaho.
That rationale, if it was ever valid, should be reexamined in light of this Idaho Statesman news article dated November 7, 2009. (more…)
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November 5, 2009
Upon Closer Examination…
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In her Thursday morning Coeur d’Alene Press article headlined Brannon will seek recount, staff writer Alecia Warren may have inadvertently suggested that a recount of the ballots from Tuesday’s city council and mayoral election is the only remedy available if there were election irregularities. It is not. (more…)
November 4, 2009
5-VOTE-MIKE !
Councilman Mike Kennedy
NOW do you think local voters will believe in the power of their vote? Only FIVE votes separated challenger Jim Brannon, who spent about $7,000 on his whole campaign, and incumbent Mike Kennedy, who ended the night ahead in the count, and wielded THREE TIMES more money, at $22,000.
But Jim and Mike’s race wasn’t the only tight one. Challenger Dan Gookin came within 29 votes of Deanna Goodlander, who also outspent him by a large margin.
So, two important questions come to mind:
1. Are you comfortable with the accuracy of the counting—should there be a recount?
2. Can elections be bought here in CdA—does the amount of money spent determine the outcome?
Any other election comments?
November 3, 2009
November 2, 2009
City of Names
This morning’s Press has big ads for the Mayor and one City Councilwoman. Their ads are huge, taking about a half page each, and are basically a big list of names. No plan for the city. Nothing to give hope to the 10.4% of Coeur d’Alene’s population who can’t find jobs. (It’s the highest unemployment rate in the whole state!) No ideas for reducing the tax burden on those struggling to keep their homes or businesses barely hanging on. And no promises for what they will do in the future. (more…)
Mike’s Mentor?
Former Councilman Reid and Councilman Kennedy
In November 7, 2006, I spoke during the “Public Comments” section of the Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting. My inquiry elicited the admission by then-Councilman Dixie Reid that councilmembers had knowingly and willingly participated in an illegally closed meeting in violation of the Idaho Open Meeting Law. Not wanting to be upstaged, Councilman Kennedy chirped in to confirm his own participation in the illegal meeting. (more…)
November 1, 2009
Revisiting a Waste of Money
[In April 2008 I posted the five-part “Toilet Not Included” series. It examined the waste of approximately $50,000 by the City of Coeur d’Alene Police [Department at the behest of City Hall.
[As we approach the November 3 mayoral and city council elections in Coeur d’Alene, I invite you to re-read each part of the series to decide for yourself if [our present complement of city officials spent tax dollars wisely and prudently. Click on each “Part…” link below. (more…)
Competing or Complementing Interests?
[This morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press editorial encourages voters to pass the two ballot measures that are supposed to fund a Kootenai County jail [expansion. But at the same time, this morning’s online Idaho Statesman is running an article headlined More cuts likely for Idaho schools.
[How often and how deeply can Idaho’s public officials go diving for dollars in the tax dollar well?