Five running for two seats on council

Three newcomers will challenge city councilmen  David Gray and John Langs for the Nov. 3 election. 

In related matters, councilman Chris Clark will run unopposed for a two-year seat on the council.   Clark was appointed to city council in January when David Sims resigned to become the assistant city administrator.

The election will be held at city hall.  Voter registration closes Friday, Oct. 9.  The write-in candidate deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 20.  Voters may register on election day before voting or if  voting with absentee ballots.  Proof of residency and identification are required.

The challengers running for the four-year term are businessman Roger Fraser,  former city engineer Mike Klaus and assessor Tom Mayo.

Fraser, 46, has lived in North Idaho for 15 years and spent the last three in Bonners Ferry.

Fraser said he  although he has never held an elected position he takes an active interest in our local government. 

“I have seen many local people serving with dedication to make Bonners Ferry a better place.  I would like to join them as a council member,” he said.

Fraser enjoys watching movies with  his wife and writing songs.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, and through his audio and video production facility, is working on bringing Boundary County Community Television on air full time.

Fraser also serves on the Boundary County translator Board.  He is a former member of the American Society for Quality, where he was an ASQ certified quality engineer.

Mike Klaus, 43, grew up in Bonners Ferry and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1984.

After high school, Klaus lived in Moscow and Hayden and returned to Bonners Ferry with his family in 2006. 

    In Hayden, Klaus served as a mayor -selected planning and zoning commissioner for five years.

    Klaus is the district engineer for Cabinet Mountain Water District.  He belongs to American Waterworks Association and American Society of Civil Engineers.

“ I like living in the City of Bonners Ferry and I would like be involved with how it operates,” Klaus said.  “ I also feel that my experience as city’s engineer from 2006-2008 gives me a unique perspective of how things work inside of city hall, as well as how I view the city now as a resident and customer.”

 Klaus likes to  camp with his family in the summer and enjoys snowboarding with his children in the winter and said  cycling is probably his favorite hobby.

Tom Mayo, 61, has lived in Boundary County for over 30 years.  He works for Boundary County Assessor’s office. 

Mayo has never held an elected office, but wants to become more involved in the community.

“I am not running with a specific agenda, nor am I add odds with any current council members. I only hope to make a positive contribution bring a fresh perspective the Council,”  he said.

   Mayo is a Vietnam combat veteran and a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Baptist church.  He likes to  read, do yard work and golf.

Clark, 57,  was appointed to the council in 2008 to fill a vacancy.  He has lived in Bonners Ferry for over 40 years, raising three sons with his wife Larrie.

Clark is a former Boundary County Commissioner and is currently a real estate broker.

“I am actively sitting on the council and was appointed to fill the term of Dave Sims they called me and I said yes and I have enjoyed my time so far,” said Clark. I am just beginning to understand the complexity of the job and would like to take it further.   I feel strongly that people should take a hand at local government, and living in a small town provides people the opportunity to do that,” he said.

Clark said that like many people in North Idaho he enjoys doing the things there are to do here to compensate for the smaller incomes earned here like hunting, fishing, water sports and skiing in the winter.

Gray, 65,  was elected to the council in November of 2005.

 A resident of the City of Bonners Ferry since 1972.  He retired from teaching in Boundary County School District for 37 years.  Gray is married and raised his three sons in Bonners Ferry.

He is active in Rotary and Horizons, and represents the City at the Panhandle Area Council and the Boundary Economic Development Council.

“ I am running because now I have knowledge of whats going on,” said Gray.  I have gained a lot of experience and bring wisdom that will benefit the city.  My concerns are with citizens safety and safety of employees, and updating our infrastructure,”  he said.

Gray has five grandchildren.  He loves the outdoors and doing family fun things. He spends a lot of time going to sports activities of his grandchildren.

“I do love sports and I am quite family oriented,” said Gray.

Langs, 62,  has lived in the community since 1975 and operates  State Farm insurance agency.

Langs was elected to the council in 2005.  He has a daughter who is a junior at Bonners Ferry High School.

“I am running to continue supporting my concerns for first, the swimming pool and making sure that it stays as a free functioning pool for the community, secondly to make sure that even though city government is a small entity it can still take an unfair position against an individual and unduly burden an individual or an employee and I want to make sure that I am there to protect the individual. I will always side with the little person,” said Langs.   And third as it turns out this is the first time in memory that the budget actually is smaller than the year before and I want to make sure that the reduction in the size of government is divided fairly and evenly among the departments and make sure it in fact  reduced,” he said.   “You have to do it fairly and hold up the same standards to all departments.”

Langs has a motorcycle that he enjoys riding in his spare time.