No contested races means no November election

None of the city nor school board races were contested in Boundary County and so, no election took place.

In September, both the mayor of Moyie Springs and Bonners Ferry resigned. 

For the city of Moyie Springs, three city council candidates were running for two open seats. With the resignation of former mayor Steve Economu, council president Geoff Hollenbeck was voted in as mayor by the council. 

This then left an open seat on the board and council candidate Patrick “Pat” Stevens was nominated and voted to take over the seat. Incumbents Deb Rauth and Terry Johnson then ran unopposed. Per Idaho Code if a race is not contested then an election does not take place, thus saving the county money. 

For the city of Bonners Ferry, council president Rick Alonzo was nominated and voted in by the council to finish out the rest of the former mayor Dick Staples’ term. In January 2024, since Staples did not pull his candidacy for the November 2023 election and he ran unopposed, he is expected to be sworn in as mayor for another term. 

Staples resigned Sept. 22, 2023, in order to avoid Idaho’s nepotism law, as his son Ben was the alleged recommendation for the golf manager position made by the golf committee. If Staples had been mayor at the time and hired his son or any relative within the second degree, he would have violated Idaho’s nepotism law. 

Zone 3 covers the city of Bonners Ferry east of U.S. 95, a small area north of the Kootenai River, east to the bank of the Kootenai River and north of the western part of Kootenai Trail.

Zone 4 covers the city of Bonners Ferry west of U.S. 95 and portions south of town on the west side all the way to the Selkirk mountain range, and portions of the Copeland area.

In July, the former Zone 3 trustee, Niki Weaver announced she was moving out of state and therefore had to vacate the seat. The district accepted applications to fill the vacancy until the November election, where the new trustee would be required to run. In order to apply as a trustee, applicants were required to file as a candidate for the zone in the November election.

On Sept. 11, a board meeting was scheduled to interview trustee candidates in executive session, but since only Mike Ferguson applied to the position no interviews took place and he was named trustee.

No candidates have filed to run as write-ins for either of the zones by the Sept. 15 deadline and so, Ferguson and Zone 4 incumbent Candance Kelly have been named trustees.

Next year elections will include a primary in May for a county commissioner seat, state legislature and the national presidential election. 

In Bonner County races, Jeremy Grimm has been elected Sandpoint's next mayor, receiving 1,159 votes while Kate McAlister had 765 votes, and Frytz Mor had 249.

In the race for Sandpoint City Council, Kyle Schreiber had 1,521 votes, Deb Ruehle had 1,058 vote, Pam Duquette had 1,007 votes, Grant Simmons had 829 votes, Elle Susnis had 797 votes, and Amelia Boyd had 671 votes.

In the West Bonner County School District’s Zone 1 race, incumbent Margaret Hall won with 539 votes to challenger Alan Galloway’s 368 votes. In Zone 3, Troy Reinbold won with 285 votes to 186 for Elizabeth Glazier. And in Zone 5, challenger Kathy Nash won with 406 votes and incumbent Carlyn Barton had 275 votes.

With incumbent Purley Decker opting not to run, Lake Pend Oreille School district can expect a new trustee for Zone 1. Scott Wood won with 1,032 votes to 447 received by Jennifer McKnight.

In Zone 4, located south of Highway 200 and including Sagle to E. Dufort and east of U.S. 95, incumbent Geraldine Lewis ran unopposed. As a result, no election was held and she will be appointed to her seat.

In Dover,  Keith Congleton and Dan Parkin won election to the council. Congleton had 144 votes, Dan Parkin had 125 votes. Steven Haynes had 108 votes.

In the race for the Clark Fork City Council, three people were on the ballot for two open seats. As of print time, Sharon J. Banning, current council president, had 45 votes, Tanya M. Becker had 44 votes and Tel Thompson had 35 votes. Banning and Becker won election to the council.

In the race for the East Hope City Council, four people were seeking the two seats. As of presstime, Don Wells had 55 votes, Pam Brockus had 51 votes, David T. Rost had 20 votes, and Scott Wieman had 11 votes. Wells and Brockus won election to the council.

In the East Hope mayor's race, Deborah Field ran unopposed for the seat. Per Idaho Code, no election was held and she will be appointed to the seat.

In Kootenai City Council races, Stephen Ferris ran for the Seat 2 position, and Daniel R. Schock ran for the Seat 4 position, both unopposed. In the mayoral race, incumbent Nancy M. Lewis also ran unopposed. As a result, no election was held and the trio will be appointed to the seat.

In the race for Oldtown City Council, Susan A. Jones ran unopposed for reelection to her seat. She will be reappointed to her seat.

In the race for the two Ponderay City Council seats, incumbents Brad Mitton  and Brenda L. Thompson ran unopposed. Mayor Steve Geiger was up for reelection and was also unopposed. As a result, no election was held and the trio will be appointed to their seats.

In the race for the Priest River City Council, three people ran for the two seats on the ballot. Unopposed for the seats were Doug Wagner and Sandy Brower. Jeff Connolly ran unopposed for the mayor's seat. As a result, no election was held and the trio will be appointed to the seats.