Reuter, Schuck announce bids for council seats

SANDPOINT — Despite the low pay and treacherous hours, two more residents have announced their candidacy to join the Sandpoint City Council.

Councilman John Reuter is seeking the sole two-year seat on council and newcomer Justin Schuck will run for one of the three four-year seats.

Reuter, who was appointed to council in 2007 to serve out the remainder of former Councilman Steve Lockwood’s term, is the second incumbent to file candidacy papers, following Councilwoman Helen Newton. Councilmen Michael Boge and John O’Hara have until Friday to decide if they want to run.

Schuck, a 29-year old Sandpoint native, worked as director of operations for Sullivan Homes before starting his own home-building company, Idagon Homes, early this year.

He said his background, which also includes a stint as a mediator for the American Arbitration Association, can help the council find solutions to the numerous growth issues facing Sandpoint.

“I think I can help council understand the sticks and bricks and infrastructure and how it works,” he said. “That seems to be something that’s coming down the pipeline and that’s something I know about.”

Schuck said he has traveled extensively around the country and the word but found no place quite like Sandpoint, and he wants the city to retain its hometown feel as it grows.

“I’m interested in having Sandpoint be a place like it was when I grew up,” he said. “I want to be proactive and understand the issues as opposed to Monday morning quarterbacking what everybody else is doing.”

If elected, Reuter said he will work to make the council a better functioning body, which includes cutting council meetings down to a more reasonable time.

“We need to make sure our meetings are efficient and that we are actively making decisions so we don’t drive off members like Doug Hawkins,” he said.

Reuter touts the council’s work on parking deregulation and the comprehensive plan as the high water marks of his term and, like Newton, said he does not regret his votes on any of the council’s controversial issues.

“There are things that I would have approached differently or done differently in terms of bringing people together,” he said.

“I don’t feel bad about the votes I’ve made … but I could probably be a kinder and gentler council member.”

Anyone interested in running for council needs to file a petition of candidacy with the city clerk by Friday.