O'Hara looking forward to serving council

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint’s newest councilman could be forgiven for being a bit shell shocked after his first week of service.

After all, John O’Hara’s inaugural council meeting lasted nearly nine hours and required him to rule on a number of controversial issues, including the much-talked-about rezone of the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

It helps that O’Hara, 43, already has a wealth of experience in city government, including time on the Sandpoint Planning Commission, the comprehensive plan’s steering committee and the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency’s board.

O’Hara, who was unanimously confirmed by the council last week to replace Doug Hawkins Jr., said he has always felt a desire to serve his community.

“It’s funny, I don’t think my motivation has changed over the years,” he said. “I think it’s to lend what I hope is a reasoned voice to the process of making decisions that can better the city of Sandpoint.”

A native of Illinois, O’Hara moved to Sandpoint in 1993 and has spent the past 11 years employed by Backwoods Solar Electric Systems, which offers alternative energy sources for remote homes. He lives with his wife, Amy, and their two children.

O’Hara said his goal as a councilman is to offer well-balanced, reasonable solutions to issues facing Sandpoint residents.

“My feeling would be that everything is flexible enough to allow us to make changes that we believe are necessary and correct to move forward,” he said.

“I think that it’s important to be able to constantly adjust our expectations so that we don’t get caught in a dogmatic approach that isn’t flexible to the new realities that crop up, whatever they may be.”

One issue sure to monopolize the council’s time over the coming years is the implementation of the comp plan, which was adopted in February.

The document is meant to guide the city through the next 20 years of growth, but a slate of new zoning laws will be needed to give the plan teeth.

O’Hara said patience will be key to bringing the document to life.

“Implementation of the comp plan, just like any ordinance, is a time-consuming process and it may not be done perfectly the first time, but it means we’re moving in the right direction,” he added.

O’Hara said he will use the coming months on council to decide whether or not to run for election in November.

“I haven’t made a firm decision in that direction,” he said.

“What I hope to do is have a well-balanced life between my work life, my service to the public and my family life.”