Robust crop of candidates in city races

PONDERAY — Voters here and in Sandpoint will not lack for choices when they head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Six people are vying for the three four-year seats up for election on the Sandpoint City Council and four candidates are angling for the two seats up for election on the Ponderay City Council.

All but one of candidates in the two city elections met at the Bonner Mall on Monday to take questions from voters and explain where they stand on a number of issues including fluoridation, taxes, infrastructure improvements and growth.

The event was sponsored by the Ponderay Community Development Corp. and the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, and moderated by Bonner County Daily Bee Publisher David Keyes.

Ponderay race

Political newcomer John Darling, former Mayor Jesse DeMers and incumbent Councilman Steve Geiger Jr. are in the hunt for the two council seats up for election. Incumbent Councilwoman Sherry Blood is also running, but did not attend Monday’s forum.

Darling said he’s in the running because he wants to bring “fresh perspectives” to the council and to see the city come up with a plan to meet its infrastructure goals without overburdening taxpayers.

“I want to hear concerns and I’d like to be an open ear for that,” said Darling, who advocated for seeking out grant funding to ease impacts on landowners in the city.

Geiger, meanwhile, thinks more can be done to wring out sales tax collected in Ponderay and direct it back to the city.

“We need to explore and find ways to get more money from the Idaho State Tax Commission,” he said. “I believe a sales tax is the fairest way to tax everybody.”

DeMers said the city’s consideration of a local option tax was a big reason she is re-entering the political realm. She felt the city could have done a better job explaining exactly what the tax revenue would be spent on.

“I was left with the fact that there was no plan in place. I’m a firm believer in plans,” said DeMers, who considered the city’s desires to use the money to improve sidewalks and public safety were too vague to win public acceptance.

Darling and Geiger were supportive of the city’s truncated work week of four days, though DeMers lobbied for a return to five days.

Sandpoint race

The race for three of the city’s four-year seats is a crowded one. The field includes incumbent Michael Boge, resource conservationist Jamie Davis, incumbent Helen Newton, retired businesswoman Marsha Ogilvie, incumbent John O’Hara and businessman Justin Schuck.

Incumbent John Reuter is running unopposed for the council’s two-year seat.

O’Hara said he’s running to sustain momentum in implementing the city’s comprehensive land use plan.

“I felt like it was my duty to see that through,” said O’Hara, a former planning commissioner who was also pleased with the city’s thrifty spending plan for the coming fiscal year.

Davis also wants to see the city’s comprehensive plan enacted and played up her ability to form partnerships to get projects completed without soaking taxpayers, as was done through the shoreline buffer demonstration project at Memorial Field.

“These are the kinds of skills I would bring to the table for the city of Sandpoint,” said Davis.

Ogilvie counted her ability to bring diverse points of view toward common goals as a strong suit. She helped established Kinderhaven and Women Honoring Women, two beloved local institutions.

“It turns out that I’m not ready to retire,” said Ogilvie, who plans to counteract the council learning curve with the assistance of seasoned department heads.

Schuck, a local paralegal with additional background in construction, told prospective voters that retaining Sandpoint’s quality of life without marginalizing those of modest means rank high on his list of goals.

“Affordable housing is very important to me and I know what it costs to build,” said Schuck.

Boge and Newton, two of the council’s more seasoned veterans, explained their differences on the hot-button issue of fluoridation. Boge said he no longer supports the additive because it is available to consumers through other sources. Allowing one additive, can pave the way for others, he said.

“It opens the door that we can open more and more,” said Boge.

Newton said she pored over all the materials fluoridation foes sent her way, but also consulted local dentists, all of whom said it was good for the public.

“I trust these professionals,” said Newton, adding that consumers still have alternative options for drinking water. “There are choices. Personally, I believe fluoride in the water is a good thing.”

Candidate were also asked to grade work on the U.S. Highway 95 bypass.

Davis gave a C, as did O’Hara. Newton rated it a B plus, while Schuck awarded a “strong B.” Noting the recent EPA violation, Boge gave it a B. O’Hara and Ogilvie qualified their responses with “incomplete,” a sentiment Reuter emphasized.

“It’s still an open question,” he said.