VIDEO: Meet the candidates

BIG CREEK — It was a night to celebrate political discourse as more than 75 people packed the club house of the Shoshone Golf Club on Thursday night for the Silver Valley Candidate Forum.

Nine candidates from the various city elections in Shoshone County spoke at the event, which was hosted by the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Shoshone News-Press.

Anali Spooner, one of three candidates for the open two positions on Mullan City Council was short and sweet as she simply introduced herself and the position she was running for.

The other two candidates for the Mullan City Council seat, Kjell Truesdell and Joe Wolford were unable to attend.

Incumbent Wallace City Councilman Dean Cooper was next in to speak.

Cooper is running against Owen Cotter for position six on Wallace’s City Council.

Cooper ran down his long list of accomplishments during his time as a Wallace public servant and highlighted how one of the biggest driving forces for him was responsible spending.

Citing his business history as the primary source of his knowledge on fiscal responsibility, Cooper would like to see Wallace continue to utilize relationships with other agencies to secure funding for the many projects.

“Our Road’s Project paved just about every road in Wallace with very little impact to the taxpayers,” Cooper said. “Same with the Sewer Project, the upcoming Sixth Street Bridge Project, the Front Street sidewalk rehab, and so many over the years. The key is we have to make sure that we have people on the council that can help the city use outside funds for major projects like this or they just won’t happen. And equally, any time we spend money we have to make sure those funds get matched.”

Cotter followed his opponent and touched on a desire to serve his hometown, “with integrity and passion,” and about creating opportunities for adults, kids, and the business district.

He spoke at length about how politics in Wallace had become divisive over the last few weeks, and that being caught in the crossfire had affected him personally.

“Some things have occured recently that are disturbing to both me and my wife Sunny,” Cotter said. “There are clear signs that some of the heated issues locally have become dirty and unfair. People around the community who I’ve had long time relationships with, who I’ve adored and respected all of my life no longer acknowledge us on the streets. There’s been terrible, untruthful, and slanderous things suggested about me.”

He believes that these things have been said due to his working relationship with another Wallace resident.

“I have to provide for my family same as everyone else,” Cotter said.

Candidates John Specht and Kevin Kessler, two of four candidates for two open positions on the Osburn City Council, were complimentary of each other and even discussed working together – even if one or both of them isn’t elected.

Specht is one of two incumbents (Spike Angle, who wasn’t in attendance being the other) and simply expressed his desire to continue serving the Osburn community.

As a lifelong resident of the Silver Valley, and veritable jack of all trades, Specht has seen and done quite a few things, but he has accomplished quite a bit in his time in office.

Paved roads, blight ordinances and codes, as well as remodeling the city hall to make it ADA compliant are just a few of the things Specht has sunk his teeth into and he plans to keep working on them – no matter what the outcome of the upcoming election is.

“I care about Osburn,” Specht said. “I’m not going anywhere, win or lose. I’m going to be in Osburn, and I’m going to be involved in the community. I wish everyone else running good luck and I’ll work with them if that’s the way it comes out.”

Kevin Kessler, a retired Idaho State Police Trooper and Army veteran, is one of two challengers to the Osburn City Council (Brian Kolczak being the other).

Now as a minister at Real Life Silver Valley in Pinehurst, Kessler wants to get back into public service, as it has been a major part of his life – either in the military or as a law enforcement officer.

Now he wants to effect the change in his community.

“I don’t have any personal agenda, I have been thinking for a while that I need to get involved,” Kessler said. “The timing was just right. Regardless of if I win or lose, I don’t really look at it as win or lose, I look at it as an opportunity to serve. If John (Specht) is the guy then he’s the guy and I’m glad for his heart in serving.”

Kessler is looking toward expanding business in Osburn and allowing the people of Osburn to have a say in that.

Of the two Kellogg City Council Position 2 candidates, Kellogg native Monica Miller kicked things off with a brief introduction of her background and her work history that currently includes four years at Shoshone County Planning and Zoning as Assistant Planner and owner of Prospect Fitness Studio.

“I’ve had a wealth of knowledge dropped on me in the past couple years,” she said of her time with the county. “Everything from issuing building permits ... going through the motions for subdivisions and building relationships with all agencies.”

Miller added that this experience working in the county has allowed her the opportunity to spend time with numerous elected officials and see how the political world works.

“I’ve sort of seen behind that iron curtain, if you will,” she joked to the audience, “and yes, I still want to run for elected office.

As for her business in Kellogg, Miller explained that Prospect Fitness filled a need and has provided her the opportunity to meet numerous people from all walks of life and professions.

“My goal was to get people moving, especially locally. It was a service that we were sort of lacking in the area. A service that we could improve upon. Especially in Kellogg.”

It was during these interactions, especially with those in the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce, she realized how so much was being done by so few and decided to help by becoming a Director with the Chamber. In the same spirit, this is why she wants to join the Kellogg City Council.

In closing, Miller pointed to two planks of her platform as items she really wants to focus on-

Establishing Kellogg’s identity and strengthening communication between volunteer groups and committees.

“I believe the more services that we can offer and the more amenities that we can offer, the more people will A. want to stay here and B. come into town and really enjoy it.”

Up next was Robin Ray, who introduced herself as a proud transplant to the Silver Valley from Arkansas.

“I’m an active person. I love the outdoors and I love what the Silver Valley offers,” she said.

Leaning heavily on the belief that government should be small and that power belongs to the people, Ray’s overall goal is to be the people’s voice.

With this in mind, she explained that based on pre-campaign polls that she conducted, one of the biggest concerns for Kellogg residents is the lack of affordable housing.

“We are having many friends and family that are having to leave because their homes are being sold. They’re ending up homeless or in campers or moving back in with their mom and dad when they’re 40 years old.”

Upon learning that Kellogg is in talks with a developer for acreage on the west end of Kellogg, one of Ray’s goals, if elected, would be to spur that and other development.

Ray also received some applause from the audience when she took a strong stance against both mask and vaccine mandates, as she also believes that this is an issue weighing heavily on the minds of Kellogg residents.

“I oppose those mandates. I am a COVID survivor, along with many other people in this room. I will not get the vaccine...because that is my god-given, constitutional right.”

She then closed her time by praising the work of the Silver Valley Chamber for their work attracting tourists and revenue to the area, but stressed that Kellogg needs more consistent income.

“My thought process with that is to incentivize outside businesses to relocate here. Promote more businesses coming in, offer more jobs, and more income stays in the valley in Kellogg and the Valley.”

To wrap up the night, Wallace Mayor and native Lynn Mogensen was the first up at the microphone and opened with a cut and dry statement for her reelection campaign.

“I’ll be the first one to stand up here and say that I do have an agenda. My agenda is first and foremost- Wallace to thrive and survive. Not only Wallace, but all of the Silver Valley.”

Following a description of her work experience and her deep familial ties to Wallace, Mogensen explained that her job as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service allows her a unique opportunity to see the citizens of the town and communicate with them regularly.

“That is one of the reasons I originally decided to run for mayor is that I am accessible. If you’re not talking to me in person, I’m not a social media person, I don’t care for it, I don’t like to play that game. Then it’s your problem, because I am accessible. If I’m not walking to and from work, or riding my bike, you’ll see me on the streets and you can walk the streets of Wallace with me.”

She added that it is one of her main priorities to hear residents and make sure everyone gets fair and equal treatment.

On the financial side of things, Mogensen touched on Wallace fiscal responsibility and cited several city projects that she was a part of including the Front Street construction project, Pearl Street retaining wall work, and High/Bank Street retaining wall work.

“The city of Wallace is in good shape financially. We have sufficient reserves and very little debt.”

Just because money is there now though, doesn't mean that it will be enough in the future.

Mogensen added, “while our finances are good, future improvements will need to be funded with additional grants. During my time as mayor, the city has written and received many grants for the pool, sewer system, and other city improvements. Our city team is well versed in securing funds for improvements.”

To wrap up, she expressed that because of her experience, she feels uniquely positioned to make business decisions for the city of Wallace and into the future.

“I believe that the key for the mayor is to listen to the public, and create a positive commercial and residential environment. I am pro-tourism. I’m a miner at heart, done responsibly, but we wouldn't survive if it wasn’t for tourism.”

The final candidate of the evening was current Wallace City Councilwoman and challenger to Mogensen’s seat for the position of Wallace Mayor, Heather Branstetter.

Branstetter discussed her core values of taking pride in her work, leadership through service, giving a voice to those who feel they don’t have one, and fairness.

Branstetter touted her campaign slogan of “A Wallace for all of us,” and explained her belief behind it.

“It doesn’t mean that I do what anyone tells me to do,” she said. “It means that I listen to all sides of an issue and am inclusive rather than divisive.”

Branstetter further discussed how she and Mayor Mogensen tend to agree on several of the major issues facing their city, but disagreed on process, use of resources, and leadership style.

“We all agree that we need to make sure to protect the things that make Wallace a great place to live,” Branstetter said. “That even those who don’t want things to change still know that we have major problems to address.”

The biggest problem according to Branstetter – housing affordability, a common theme throughout the evening.

One of Branstetter’s solutions is adopting a short term occupancy tax, commonly referred to as a ‘resort tax’ for hotels and vacation rentals, one that wouldn’t cost the residents of Wallace anything, but would generate funds that could be used to potentially address the housing need.

Branstetter also explained how 13 other cities in Idaho already utilize such a tax, including Kellogg.

She also believes that grant funding could be secured that would help convert some of the upper floors in Wallace’s business district into affordable living spaces.

Branstetter also discussed her work with the ongoing pool project in Wallace and how her efforts were key to securing some much needed funding.

But at the end of the day, she believes that her candidacy is the equivalent of a job interview and that based upon her track record of getting results, she believes that she would be the best choice for the job.