Vote for candidates who will show all respect

Change. Change. Change. Everywhere we turn in Sandpoint and Bonner County, something is changing. With that change comes inevitable conflict.

All around us, we see widening economic gaps. A new Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan and future ordinances based on that plan will greatly impact what our city will soon look like. Healthy cooperation with Bonner County officials and Idaho officials is imperative to positively impact the quality of life in Sandpoint and Bonner County.

The pace of change and the resulting conflicts are the best reasons why I urge Sandpoint citizens to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6. This is such an critical election, because we will choose a mayor and four city council members who will help lead our community through the changes and conflicts we face.

I won't pretend to tell you who to vote for. But I do want to tell you what kind of candidates I believe can deal best with the complex issues that our city's governing officials will deal with in the next few years.

I want a mayor and city council who can work together because each person respects the others on this elected team. The inevitable conflict of ideas will require genuine teamwork and collaboration if healthy decisions are made in the best interest of our entire community, not just some parts of it.

So I will vote for a mayor and city council members whom I believe are willing learn from each other, whose decision-making process will as open as possible, who will use mutual persuasion rather than coercion in making decisions. I want a city team that will deal with conflict directly and cooperatively. That will mean better decisions.

I encourage you to vote for persons who will make decisions for Sandpoint with respect for each other, and for us.

PAUL GRAVES

Former mayor

Sandpoint