Both Christie Wood and Dan Gookin have announced their re-election campaigns for their seats on CDA City Council in the November 2023 election. This doesn’t come as a surprise as both candidates have been high-profile individuals for years within the Coeur d’Alene community.
In Gookin’s public statement, it seems that both him and Wood will be publicly teaming up against the county Republican party’s candidates and expect fierce competition.
“Christie and I are friends who can disagree on policy yet remain friends. Our goals are the same: To do what’s best for all the citizens of Coeur d’Alene,” says Gookin.
Speaking of their merits, Wood states: “In my mind, the No. 1 priority for a city is to keep its residents safe. I will always prioritize the budget in that regard. I am also so proud of our beautiful parks, our safe drinking water and the numerous department heads who work hard in their positions to keep our city operating efficiently. It’s a delicate balance to make sure each department is funded appropriately.”
Gookin also hashed a bit on his political platform: “Four years ago, I campaigned on protecting the character and charm of Coeur d’Alene, preserving established neighborhoods and holding the line on government spending. When reelected, I shall continue to prioritize these objectives.”
Oddly enough both candidates seem to veer into the political dysfunction brewing at NIC in their announcements.
For example, Christie Wood: “I have personally lived through the chaos and purposeful destruction of NIC by three board members. I saw firsthand what damage can come about with a partisan agenda […] I continue to support the efforts of the minority on the board to save the college.” Wood doesn’t acknowledge that her non-profit (Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations) initiated the complaint to NWCCU; the accreditation agency for NIC.
Gookin: “My record shows that I put the public first, not right-wing ideology. The people of Coeur d’Alene don’t want to see City Hall infected by the destruction, illegal meetings, overspending and acrimony happening now at NIC.”
In the State of Idaho, council races are considered non-partisan, and candidates from both sides of the political spectrum generally agree that local races shouldn’t be characterized by ideological invectives, and gainsaying. However, in recent years as the political climate has dramatically evolved this notion seems to be going out the window.
