Dan and Steve did it! Dan beat George Sayler by 974 votes, and Steve unseated John Bruning by 1420. Neither race was ever close.
Here’s what Dan told the Press: “”I would like to say the public finally got their vote on McEuen Field, and they spoke loud and clear… The council got a new direction.”
Steve said he will focus on a vote for McEuen, reducing the budget and reigning in LCDC, just as he promised in his campaign.
What are your thoughts and feelings this morning?
JohnA, to the average reader and the below average readers that frequent the other blog (I mean that with all due respect of course), your claim that only “8% of the population of CdA decided the election” reads the same as “only 8% of the voters turned out”. IF you had been on the up and up with your intentions and did not want to delude folks, you would have included the clarifications that you were referencing the entire population, from infants to those on their last breaths, and everyone in between, not possible voters or even registered voters. You would also have explained that the voter turnout was the same as in the last council election. But you did not.
Comment by mary — November 12, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
My Dad, rest his soul, used to joke that he wasn’t always right; that he made a mistake once. Then he would chuckle and say, “It was when I thought I made a mistake, but then realized I hadn’t.” He thought that was so funny.
John seems to think that for real.
Comment by mary — November 12, 2011 @ 12:56 pm
Mary, with all due respect how does ‘8% of the population’ infer 8% of the voting public? I even referenced the 2010 Census in the post. You may be the only one to infer such a thing.
And, I was going to follow up with the fact that it was similar to the previous election so I could make the point that McEuen had nothing to do with the results. The candidates that won did so because they had a local organization with a strong base to draw on. As Obama showed once upon a time that is a winning combination.
Comment by JohnA — November 12, 2011 @ 1:01 pm
One more tirade and I’m going outside.
Urban Renewal is not capitalistic; it is unfair to business. Super One gets freebies to build their store but what about the small grocery stores they will compete with or put out of business in Bonner’s Ferry? How is it fair that the taxes from one business are increased to create give-aways for a competing business?
Here in CdA, how is it fair that luxury condo tower Park Side was approved for $800,000 by LCDC, when other condo developers will not get those incentives?
The best thing government can do to improve the business climate is lower taxes for EVERYONE, then get out of the way.
Comment by mary — November 12, 2011 @ 1:04 pm
So let me ask this, is anyone trying to get Boeing to consider CdA airport? They need a new place to build the 737. I believe Trivolta flies something that size into CdA all of the time. The concerns with Spokane is Fairchild AFB being to close to GEG. There are no restrictions around CdA like this.
Are the “powers that be” in negotiations with Boeing or are we just going to keep building houses making developers, that will not have to live in what they create, rich leaving behind rental slums for the elite?
Why would it be such a far fetched idea for Boeing to be in North Idaho? We DO have a work force ready for employment AND, to their advantage, we ARE a “right to work state”. After all, isn’t that the point to maximize profit?
OR is thirty miles the difference between a “QUALIFIED” and “EDUCATED” work force or not?
Comment by concerned citizen — November 12, 2011 @ 1:16 pm
The other stores in Bonners Ferry could have done the same thing, Mary. And, remember, the taxes of the competing stores will not go up as a result of the Super One coming on the tax rolls. That is unless their business goes up markedly, which happens often when an area is revitalized, even if a competitor is nearby.
It’s the same with the condos downtown. Urban renewal can work anywhere there is development wanting to build in a deteriorated area. No one wanted to take a chance downtown on condos until incentives made it pencil out. It’s really as simple as that, Mary.
And, please don’t argue with the results. Downtown is a vibrant place now when it was a ghost town in ’97. It didn’t happen on its own; it happened because of urban renewal.
Comment by JohnA — November 12, 2011 @ 1:20 pm
JohnA,
I do not claim a political affiliation. Both sides have their head up their #$$ and out of the light. So, NO it was NOT about Reagan Republicans. I have talked to MANY that are not affiliated as well. This WAS about an out of touch local, and not local, government.
Comment by concerned citizen — November 12, 2011 @ 1:22 pm
I also disagree with your idea of ghost town. It IS again.
Comment by concerned citizen — November 12, 2011 @ 1:24 pm
Nonsense. Downtown CDA blossomed after the 1991 Pro-Am that Duane brought in and after the investments that Duane made in the Resort using PRIVATE capital JohnA. You are entitled to your own opinion but making up FACTS is just another blot on your character.
Comment by justinian — November 12, 2011 @ 1:33 pm
So I guess, judging by no response at all, that the powers that be really do not care about jobs.
Comment by concerned citizen — November 12, 2011 @ 2:04 pm
You are wrong, Justinian. That’s all. My facts are right. In 1997 despite upgrades to Sherman and Lakeside and creation of a Business Improvement Distict, vacancy rates were over 40%. Ask Don Johnston who owned much of downtown or Tom Robb who had one of the few open doors or even Duane Hagadone, who turned his Plaza Shops inward and away from the deterioration that was downtown. Or, check the records of the Downtown Association for an easier answer. Then, look at pictures of Midtown and the mill site overlooked by the only reason to go near downtown (Gibbs Tavern, coldest beer in town.) You’ll find I am right and you are wrong.
That’s the flaw in your character: you are wrong and would tell the mistruth that I am wrong when I am not.
Comment by JohnA — November 12, 2011 @ 2:06 pm
Hard to believe John, but I agree wholeheartedly with you on one point. The McEuen debacle will go ahead in spite of the election. As far as possible before Jan. swearing in. Arrogance and hubris obviously take precedent over what the public wants. She isn’t called Sandi “arrogant” Bloem for nothing.
Comment by rochereau — November 13, 2011 @ 9:51 am
ROTFLMAO!
You equate a 60% occupancy rate with a “ghost town”? And you from the Silver Valley? BWAHAHAhahahahaaaaa……
You can’t handle the truth John, if you did you would be horrified at the nasty truth about yourself.
Comment by justinian — November 13, 2011 @ 10:54 am
There’s no ‘nasty truth’ about me, Just. I stand by my record over the last twenty five years: Of helping counties to cite landfills and providing free public transit. Of helping cities build police and fire stations, and better roads like Ramsey and Government Way and update their sewer and water facilities to bring them to DEQ and EPA standards. To create good jobs. That’s the truth and nothing but the truth about me.
So, what about you? What have you done? Oh, wait, the answer to that might reveal who you really are. We can’t have that, now can we?
Comment by JohnA — November 13, 2011 @ 11:30 am
Says the self proclaimed man without flaw. Sell that to the fools over at that other blog John. Your conduct here is enough to cause reasonable people to recognize you for who you are. Arrogance is just one of your predictable character traits. And logic just is not among your strengths.
You have twice here recently played fast and loose with “facts” – claiming that only 8% of people voted mattered (and in fact that number is statistically meaningless) and then defining a downtown on growth mode as a “ghost town”.
But you do have your pension John, that you have. Paid for by tax dollars taken away from folks making much less than you. That you have. Pat yourself on the back. Look into the mirror and tell yourself how wonderful you are. And be glad that you are sheltered from the truth.
Comment by justinian — November 13, 2011 @ 11:51 am
8% of the population, not voters: see comment #53 Can you not read for comprehension?
Ghost town: the rest of CDA was thriving, especially north of Appleway to the Silver Lake Mall, so the 40% of boarded up businesses in midtown, downtown and along NW Boulevard looked like a ‘ghost town’ by comparison.
And, yep, I have a small pension because the state invested my contribution and that of my employers, and because my 401K took off. It’s no different than anyone else would have if they invested well.
Bottom line, nothing I’ve stated here has been based in anything but fact.
With that, I’m off to walk the dog. Have a good day.
Comment by JohnA — November 13, 2011 @ 12:18 pm
Well, not really. Most people do not get benefits as RICH as the ones taken by force from taxpayers to reward those who will TWIST facts to paint false to fact portraits of the real world in support of Big Government.
Comment by justinian — November 13, 2011 @ 12:34 pm
I’m afraid you’re a lost cause, Just. I feel sorry for you.
Comment by JohnA — November 13, 2011 @ 2:21 pm
Aww, pity from a government employee. How cute.
Comment by justinian — November 13, 2011 @ 2:40 pm
JohnA,
You are mister government knowledge. Boeing is looking at building in Spokane for the 737. Do you know if anyone is trying to get Boeing to consider CdA airport instead? I believe Trivolta flies something that size into CdA all of the time. The concerns with Spokane is Fairchild AFB being to close to GEG. CdA would not have near the air traffic interfere as well.
Have the “powers that be” here in CdA even considered negotiating with Boeing?
Would it be such a far fetched idea for Boeing to be in North Idaho? We DO have a work force ready for employment with the unemployment rate as high as it is.
Comment by concerned citizen — November 13, 2011 @ 7:25 pm
concerned citizen,
You’re talking about Project Pegasus. Washington state is bending over backwards to keep Boeing in Washington. One of the concerns Spokane has about Pegasus is that there is a need to increase building height limits on the land between Spokane International Airport (GEG) and Fairchild AFB. Raising the height limits too much could present a serious safety problem for FAFB.
You raised a very good question though. Were Kootenai County officials even interested/aware?
Comment by Bill — November 13, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
Bill,
At this point the Kootenai County officials NEED to be interested/aware. Our elected officials have the DUTY to help end this depression any way they can which includes doing their job looking for opportunities such as this. But again they would rather take the easy money from the taxpayers through handouts to give to their friends and not for the good of all. Which officials could one talk to to get these questions answered? Again, we do not have an AFB, nor anything else, that would conflict with there project.
Comment by concerned citizen — November 14, 2011 @ 7:02 am