Candidates grateful for local support
SANDPOINT — Despite a low voter turnout in many precincts, victorious candidates in Sandpoint and Ponderay are grateful for local support.
Out of all Sandpoint candidates, Shannon Williamson came out with the most total support, bringing in 486 votes. As the director of the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper, Williamson is a well-known water quality advocate outspoken on local issues like coal trains and milfoil treatments in Lake Pend Oreille. However, as a mother of two, Williamson’s primary motivation to seek motivation for public office was to preserve Sandpoint’s family-friendly qualities.
“This has been a great learning experience, and I know I have so much more to learn in the coming years,” she said. “I’m very excited.”
As a local business owner, Shelby Rognstad first got involved with Sandpoint’s local government through the development of the comprehensive plan and other planning committees. He accepted an appointment to a council seat in 2011 after Marsha Ogilvie’s election to mayor and now retains that seat after obtaining 459 votes. In the near future, he’s excited to see the last piece of zoning code come through and is eager to initiate a downtown redesign following the return of downtown streets from the Idaho Transportation Department. In the long term, Rognstad hopes to see the establishment of a trail along the Selkirk Crest.
“I want to thank all the voters out there,” he said. “I’ll do my best.”
Bob Camp secured the third seat on the council with 439 votes. A well-known figure among local volunteer groups and community organizations, Camp has filled in time with the Sandpoint Kiwanis Club, Bonner County Museum and the Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission, just to name a few. He decided to throw his hat in for the council election based on what he sees as an occasionally strained relationship between the city and local business.
“I guess my sound bite would be to get the city out of the way and let business be business,” he said.
Ponderay candidates John Darling and Karen Engel are similarly excited to be taking a seat on the council next year. With some big years ahead for Ponderay including the purchase of the third Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail parcel and the development of the Field of Dreams, Darling is eager to be a part of the planning. He received 28 votes to secure that position.
“I’m very excited that the community brought me back for another term,” he said.
Meanwhile, Engel plans to spend the next few months finishing her work with the city’s planning organizations and begin learning the ropes as a first-term councilwoman. She’s excited to have earned a seat on the council, but she’s also somewhat dismayed at the low voter turnout.
“I’m excited about this new adventure and am eager to be more involved in the (city government),” she said.