Articles
Democratic Candidates Show Solidarity
COEUR D’ALENE (Coeur d'Alene Press) - Education took center stage Wednesday night as three Democratic candidates met with constituents in a show of solidarity in preparation for the November election. "(Idaho politics is) unbalanced, and we need a new way of doing...
Secure the Vote
The Idaho Legislature concluded the Special Session called by Governor Brad Little. Included in the approved bills were three modifications to our state election laws. These changes affect how you vote in the November 3 General Election. See ways to secure the vote....
Is this defense or intimidation?
A militia movement, recast, takes to the streets of North Idaho COEUR D’ALENE (Idaho Statesman) — Rebecca Schroeder doesn’t tell people her new address. As an outspoken progressive advocate from Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho, she’s grown accustomed to local...
Vote Early and Vote by Mail
The threat of contracting COVID-19 at a polling place is expected to lead many Idahoans to vote by mail. But due to funding cuts imposed on the United States Postal Service by its new director, a man who donated ‘hugely’ to the President’s campaign, their votes...
I Will Vote
September 21 is the first day that Idaho’s County Clerks can distribute mail in ballots to voters. Knowing that this election is critical and that health risks are a concern for many voters, it is recommended that you vote by mail. To get started, use the link I Will...
State must staff polling places
In this historic election year, Idaho faces a unique challenge. While faced with an ongoing pandemic, county clerks throughout the state must staff polling places for the General Election. Normally, polls are staffed primarily by retirees. However, since these...
Masks and rights: Who trumps whom?
“My body, my choice!” A refrain from the abortion rights movement is now the battle cry of those insisting there’s a right against wearing masks or being vaccinated during a pandemic. When the Board of Panhandle Health District met last week to consider a facemask...
OUR GEM: Heavy metals in our watershed
The headwaters of the Coeur d’Alene Basin are essential to the success of mining, timber, agriculture, and hydropower industries. Mining activities along the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River have a significant influence on basin watershed conditions and on the...
We Stand For Equal Treatment, Equal justice, and Inclusive Democracy
As Kootenai County Democrats, we believe in equal treatment, equal justice, and inclusive democracy. Moreover, we strive locally to build a community where all people of good will feel safe and welcome. That is why we oppose the upcoming Liberate America event...
Op-Ed: My Idaho town shows how the Black Lives Matter movement can resonate in deep red communities
Last week, my dad readied his hunting rifle to defend our family against the possibility of chaos in the streets coming to our door. Downtown streets half a mile from our home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, were filling with citizens bearing assault rifles to protect local...
Temporarily Closing Sherman Avenue
Temporarily closing Sherman Avenue is consistent with what other cities have done like Portland, Maine, Wilmington, North Carolina, Palo Alto, California and Boise, Idaho. Smart growth cities around the country are responding to COVID-19 by opening more streets for...
Open Smart. Shop Smart. Dems Support Local Businesses.
Open Smart. Shop Smart. Dems Support Local Businesses. Partisan division has reared its ugly head as groups protest restrictions on their personal liberty, ignoring recommended guidelines, or even thumbing their noses at them. Democrats value local businesses which...
Urban Renewal Districts and the Creation of the Health District Corridor
Background and Full Disclosure I am a Coeur d’Alene City Council member and currently serve on the ignite cda board. These are the two governing bodies that created the new Health Corridor urban renewal district late last year. I was also the Kootenai County...
Responding to “Asleep at the Wheel” Editorial
Dear Editorial Board: Do not assume voters are “asleep at the wheel.” In your March 13 Editorial, you stated that 831 voters chose presidential candidates who were no longer in the race. Do not assume these voters were uninformed or misinformed. According to the...
Reentry Center: Look Hard at Merits
Weighing in on the current debate about whether Kootenai County should accept an Idaho Department of Corrections re-entry center, I am on the “pro” side. As a teacher and administrator at Anchor House/Idaho Youth Ranch for twenty years working with troubled,...
Outreach Offers Opportunities to Show We Care
KC Dems Community Outreach Committee had another great year. Consequently, as the Outreach Chair, I want to thank our members and volunteers who generously donated their money, supplies and precious time, so that we could reach out and support many fine and deserving...
Stand Tall to Defend Public Art
At its best, public art has the trans-formative potential to spark community engagement and create a sense of place. On any given day, you can see a child gravitate joyfully to the Mudgy and Millie moose at Independence Point or on Sherman Avenue. Functional but drab...
WHAT IMPEACHMENT IS, AND ISN’T
Despite what the talking heads and others may say, an impeachment is not a garden variety criminal trial. The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution does not apply to an impeachment proceeding. The confusion may be understandable because there have been only three...
2020 Primary and Caucus Info
What are Kootenai County Democrats doing in 2020 to help select the Democratic candidate for President of the United States? Idaho Democrats will hold a presidential primary election for president on March 10, 2020. They will also hold a small caucus on April 4, 2020,...
Climate Change Is Real
The root causes and long-term implications of climate change are settled science. For years, scientists have clearly and consistently documented and correlated the trending global increases of temperature with rising levels of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping...
2019 Fair Report
Another fair is history--and the Democratic booth at the fair has made history in its own way. We conducted an early 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary Straw Poll--or bean poll, if you prefer, since we used dried beans for voting tokens. One of our measures of...
Courtney Beebe is a Rising Star
Courtney Beebe is a Rising Star. She entered the world of the Kootenai County Democrats after the ignominious election of Donald Trump, whose only worthy contribution may be his inspiring so many to “get involved” in resistance to his policies. She first volunteered...
Kootenai Democrats choose Dan English
The Kootenai Democrats choose Dan English as the 2019 recipient of the Art Manley Lifetime Achievement Award. Dan began his career in public service as a juvenile probation officer and won a seat on the school board. As a result of that experience, in...
KCDCC Applauds Governor’s Veto
The Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC) applauds Governor Little for honoring the thousands of Idahoans who opposed Senate Bill 1159 and House Bill 296. Since 2006, the State of Idaho has paid over $2 million dollars out of the Constitutional Defense...
Restore Standard Building Practices
The Kootenai County Commissioners will hold a public meeting on March 28, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Schuler Auditorium at NIC in order to address the potential repeal of Resolution 522, the “building code opt-out” resolution. The Kootenai County Democratic Central...
KCDCC Supports Passage of Supplemental Levies on March 12
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – March 5th, 2018 – The Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC) supports the passage of the maintenance and operation supplemental levies proposed for a vote on March 12, 2019, by the Coeur d’Alene School District No. 271,...
KCDCC supports House Bill 55 which incrementally increases the minimum wage
KOOTENAI COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee Passes Resolution Supporting HB 50 and HB 55 Concerning Minimum Wage: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – February 26th, 2019 – Recognizing that Kootenai County’s...
Senator Souza Attacks Medicaid Expansion
KOOTENAI COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senator Souza Seeks to Escape the Will of the People with Senate Bill 1100 Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – February 19th, 2018 – The Medicaid expansion initiative passed by 58% percent of the vote in Senator...
Kootenai Democrats Stand Against Partisan Controlled Redistricting Process
KOOTENAI COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Constitutional Amendment to Gerrymander Idaho (House Joint Resolution2) Objected to by KCDCC Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – February 13, 2019 – Last week, the Republican majority on the House State Affairs...
Pizza and Politics Round Up
This is one of the best community education events that the Kootenai Democrats and the IDLCC put on every year. Pizza and Politics is the main opportunity for Democratic legislators to talk to the public about the good work that the Democratic Caucus is doing in the...
Implement Medicaid Expansion as Written
KOOTENAI COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – February 11th, 2019 - The Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC) is pleased with the Idaho Supreme Court’s decision to rule that Medicaid Expansion in Idaho is...
2020 Presidential Race
The 2020 presidential election is upon us!!! Kootenai County Dems let’s embrace it!!! Happy New Year to everyone! I am beyond excited about what we can accomplish in 2020. All it requires is some new and old ideas and some new and old habits. And yes, there are some...
2018 Year in Review
Here are the highlights of the year: Safe Passage Breakfast Sixteen KC Dems, including two candidates attended the Safe Passage Violence Awareness breakfast and also donated to the organization. Safe Passage helps victims, mostly women and children, who are affected...
KC Dems Support Souport for the End of Homelessness
In November, KC Dems Community Outreach volunteers and about 1000 other folks enjoyed the truly warming (for heart and stomach!) soup contest event put on by St. Vincent de Paul. Held this year for the first time at the Silver Lake Mall, the event raises money to help...
We Oppose Prop 2 Lawsuit
We, the Kootenai County Democrats, are disappointed with the recent lawsuit against Proposition 2 Medicaid Expansion that has been brought to the Idaho Supreme Court by the dark money group known as the Idaho Freedom Foundation. This special interest group is led by...
Medicaid Expansion Good for Idaho
Medical bankruptcy is a uniquely American medical problem, as is affordable health care for over 60,000 Idahoans. Idaho taxpayers are currently paying for Medicaid expansion in 33 states, but we do not benefit from this program. There is a myth people “in the gap” are...
Break the Silence Suicide Prevention Walk
A large contingent of community volunteers, including the Kootenai County Democrats, joined the community in support of this important community event organized by the Region 1 Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN). Over 800 folks registered for the SPAN Walk to...
Families Belong Together
Written by Zoe O’Brien Photography from CDA Families Belong Together Vigil It’s 2018 and we are one nation under hate, and responsible for the separation of all 2000+ families coming over our border seeking asylum. How is it fair that I can come home every day...
A platform we all can believe in
Finally, the 2018 Idaho Democratic Party Annual State Convention is officially over. More importantly, this biennial event, held in Caldwell at the College of Idaho was a big success. The conference drew elected delegates from all over Idaho. Together, this committed...
Kootenai Dems Reject Federally Forced Separation
Based on a LTE-Submitted to the CDAPRESS June 6, 2018 We, the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee, protest the fact that, under Attorney General Jeff Sessions's “zero tolerance policy,” officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement forcibly separate...
Stellar Accomplishments Distinguished Nash-Mahuron
The Kootenai Democrats enthusiastically recognize Jessica Nash-Mahuron as the 2018 Rising Star. Jessica distinguished herself by displaying an unflagging work ethic, organizational and strategic planning skills, and infectious enthusiasm. The Kootenai County...
KDWA Shower Gifts Support CASA
The Kootenai Democratic Women’s Association hosted their CASA Baby Shower on Wednesday, May 16. KDWA members and friends gathered at the home of Shiela Gary. Gary is a co-chair of the association. The annual spring benefit collected clothing and incidentals for babies...
2018 Democracy Dinner
On May 10, the Kootenai Democrats gathered for a celebration. The reason for this festive event was the 16th Annual North Idaho Democracy Dinner. This regional gathering of Democrats featured a keynote address by former Washington State Legislator and current...
Unselfish Service Makes Callen Worthy
The Kootenai County Democrats bestow the 2018 Art Manley Lifetime Achievement Award to Janet Callen. For the past 18 years, she lived the principles for which this award was established. In addition, she consistently demonstrates her commitment to Democratic values...
Kootenai Democrats Proudly Welcome Matt Kilburn
The Kootenai Democrats proudly welcome Matt Kilburn. The Central Committee selected Matt to be our new 2018 field organizer. Hiring Matt signifies an important investment in our Party. It also supports our goal of getting our Democratic candidates elected this year....
Active April
Our KC Dems Community Outreach Committee works to make Democrats visible in Kootenai County! Thanks to Cathy Kraus and her team, local Democrats had an active April by participating in the Kootenai Environmental Alliance Earth Day Fair and the Safe Passage Violence...
Lincoln Reclaimed
Two local Democrats want you to know they are running to become Idaho State Legislators for Kootenai County. Their campaigns emphasize their intention to reclaim values true to their bloodline. The brothers, Dan and Shem Hanks, are great, great, great, great, great...
Rapid Response Team
Real change doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it’s cultivated through years of careful planning and thorough execution. To achieve this needed change, the Idaho Democrats have created a Rapid Response Team. Formed in the aftermath of the 2016 elections, the Rapid...
Undermining Independent Oversight
Redistricting and gerrymandering are topics in the news as the new US Census approaches. The reason for the renewed attention is because the census results affect the allocation of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. In other words, as state populations...
Consuming Politics
Over 100 enthusiastic county residents filled the Human Rights Education Institute for Pizza and Politics on Saturday, March 3. The annual gathering, hosted by the Kootenai Democrats, featured House Minority Leader and District 9 Representative Mat Erpelding. As the...
Speaking About Fair Taxes
My name is Cory Jane English, senatorial candidate for Legislative District 4. As the political season gets underway, there is a lot of talk about taxes. For example, the Republican candidates for governor are trying to out-conservative one another by talking about...
Hanks Announces Campaign
Shem Hanks announces campaign to run for Seat 4B in the Idaho State Legislature this November. Hanks is a 20+ year resident of Kootenai County and a native Idahoan. His primary focus is on standing up for the working class. “I was raised in a double-wide...
Pizza and Politics
The 2nd Regular Session of the 2018 Idaho Legislature got under way on January 8, 2018. The agenda is set and the issues are vast. Hidden among the many subjects under discussion are changes which will affect you and your family for good or ill. The outcome may seem...
Community Voices: Thomas Keenan
Suppose instead of falling for the "wedge-issue-of-the-month" trap, we reject messaging that serves only to divide us as neighbors, communities and citizens of a great nation. When faced with an invite to expend needless energy "discussing" the latest wedge issue,...
Progressive play shines at Lake City Playhouse
Falsettos, William Finn’s musical originally on Broadway in the 90s, tells the story of a family reconfigured by the coming out of a homosexual father during the AIDS epidemic. Set in the late 70s and 80s, Falsettos follows the life of a family of three; Trina (played...
Rebecca Schroeder Announces Candidacy for Idaho Legislature
For Immediate Release December 22, 2017 Schroeder to Run for State Representative, Seat A, in District 4 For more information contact Shawn Keenan 208-699-6340 COEUR D’ALENE— Rebecca Schroeder is announcing her campaign to be District 4’s next State Representative....
Kootenai Democrats Endorse Medicaid Initiative Petition
January 9th, 2018 The Kootenai County Democratic Party endorses the petition drive launched by non-partisan group Reclaim Idaho to expand Medicaid for 78,000 Idahoans who fall in the coverage gap, many of which who desperately need access to care. Our current...
Community Voices: Paulette Jordan House Party
Article by Cory Alexander, MD “If you aren’t sitting at the table, you are on the menu!” -- Paulette Jordan On Friday, December 22, 2017, I attended a house party in Spokane Valley with Rebecca Schroeder featuring Paulette Jordan, Democratic candidate for Governor of...
Solidarity Rally at Hecla HQ: Let’s Support Miners!
Article and Photography by Shawn Keenan Shirley McFaddan, Kristi Milan, and Jan Studer stand in solidarity along Highway 95 in front of Hecla Mining Company Headquarters. Since March 13th of this year, more than 230 of our USW Local 5114 brothers and sisters from the...
KC Dems Souport the End of Homelessness
Article by Cathy Kraus, Community Outreach Committee Chair The KC Dems bread team is ready in their KC Dems shirts. On November 16th, as chilly gray skies and drizzle hung over Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai County Democrats’ Community Outreach...
Idaho Dems Vote for Primary, not Caucus
Article by Paula Neils Photography by Christine Harding The Idaho Democratic State Committee voted on October 14, 2017, at the quarterly meeting in Pocatello, to change from a caucus to a primary to determine voter preference for the Democratic...
Honoring the Veterans in our Families
A KC Dems Community Collaboration Submitted by Lt. Colonel Bill Douglas, U.S. Army JAG, Ret. and former Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Photo Caption: Lt. Colonel Bill Douglas, U.S. Army JAG, Ret. As a retired Army Judge Advocate General, I have given legal...
Speak up for Your City Council and Vote!
Article by Jessica Nash This November election, residents across Kootenai County are invited to cast their ballots for various city positions. That includes Mayoral seats in some cities, City Council seats in all cities and Fire District Commissioners...
KC Dems Bust a Groove with Dance Through Time
Photography by Teuvo Orjala and Larry Telles Article by Jessica Nash On the Friday night before Halloween, local Democrats of all ages graced the dance floor at the Eagles club on Sherman Avenue. With stellar dance moves and flashy costumes, Kootenai Democrats...
Faith Leaders Share Views on Climate Change
Article by Suzanne Marshall Climate Action CDA, a program of the Kootenai Environmental Alliance, hosted a panel on Faith and Climate Change at North Idaho College on October 19, 2017. An audience of approximately 50 community members and students...
Engaging our Youth in the Classroom
Article by Paula Neils One of the many tasks I do as Chair of the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee is to accept speaking invitations. For the past eight years in the fall, responding to an invitation by Mr. Brian Holgate, I have spoken to the...
Community Voices: Thomas Keenan
Article by Thomas Keenan Introduction by Jessica Nash Thomas Keenan has lived in Coeur d’Alene since 1978. His civic engagement and community involvement over the years is impressive. He has door-knocked as a Democratic Precinct Captain, beautified our area...
Idaho Democrats: It’s Time to Stand Together
Article by Christopher S. Matthews A guiding principle I live by is staying true to myself. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” Since the...
America’s Immigration Policy: #Sad!
Column by Jan Studer Images Contributed by Alycia Moss President Trump appears unable to show true compassion to the immigrant children and young adults of the United States who were brought to American shores by their parents and who now await a...
Lights, Camera, Political Action!
Article by Mary Hamilton Photography by Larry Telles and Teuvo Orjala The Kootenai County Democrats hosted another successful Theater Night event. Bev Moss and her incredible team put together an evening of food, beverages, theater and great conversation. Lake City...
Lake CDA Waterkeeper Hosts Boat Tours
Article by TJ Gossard Do you know that the second largest Superfund site in the United States, Bunker Hill, has affected the Coeur d’Alene Basin? Do you know that the United States Geological Survey estimates there are more than 75 million metric tons of contaminated...
2017 Dem Fair Booth: An Unqualified Success!
Article by Paula Neils Photography by Larry Telles The 2017 North Idaho Fair is now history. The “Democratic Booth at the Fair” is an annual event of the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee and is accomplished by much expense, planning, and...
Democratic Women in Bloom at Garden Party
Article and Imagery by Jessica Nash Democratic women in our community gathered for the popular Annual Garden Party on Wednesday, August 16th at Theresa Potts’ home in Coeur d’Alene. Surrounded by an array of cultivated flowers and greenery, women mingled...
Pot: Profit or Prosecution?
Column by Jan Studer To a passerby, the gathering in the dining room at the Seasons restaurant on August 2nd might have appeared to be seniors participating in a presentation on Medicare or Social Security. This presumption would not have been far-fetched,...
Medicaid for Idaho Campaign Tours Coeur d’Alene
Article and Photography by TJ Gossard “Right now our senators—Senator Crapo, Senator Risch—are participating in an effort to begin a process, and possibly complete a process, to dismantle Medicaid as we know it: putting $800 billion out of the Medicaid...
Reclaim Idaho and Marilynne Robinson Elevate Education Conversation
Article by Jessica Nash Photography by Mary Hamilton In a relatively short period of time, Reclaim Idaho has catapulted a statewide campaign propelled by grassroots community organizing. At the heart of the campaign are issues that affect our daily...
Where Progressive Values Meet Party Organization
The New Face of Grassroots Advocacy in Kootenai County Article by Courtney Beebe Chris Matthews has always shared the progressive values of Theodore Roosevelt and FDR, even as a student at Kellogg High School where he met his future wife, Emily. After serving in the...
KC Dems Hit the Streets with Summer of Resistance
Article by Courtney Beebe Photography by Nash Mahuron The Kootenai County Democrats grabbed some sunscreen and hit the streets on July 8, 2017 for the Idaho Democratic Party “Summer of Resistance” canvass and training event. The Summer of Resistance is a 14-city,...
Our Footprint in the Community
Article by Lisa Nunlist and Bev Moss The long-awaited new home for the historic Coeur d’Alene Carousel opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 9th. This charming structure is across from City Park, next to Memorial Field. From 1942 to 1975, this...
KC Dems Rally for 4th of July Parade
Dedicated volunteers gathered at Kootenai County Democrats Headquarters on Sunday, July 2nd to create signage for the annual 4th of July parade on Sherman Avenue. Sign-makers were encouraged to emit powerful and positive messages to proudly display our values to the...
Progressive Dinner: She Persisted
Ts. Rage. Anger. Lack of Civil Discourse. Have you ever wondered why these emotions seem so prevalent in today’s political climate? Well, Progressive Diners hosted presenter Cory Alexander, MD at its June 7th meeting at the Seasons in downtown Coeur d’Alene and...
Kootenai County Democrats Show their Pride in the Park
At this year’s 3rd annual Pride in the Park, Kootenai County Democrats joined a rainbow of vibrant organizations, businesses and attendees to celebrate inclusion and diversity. Organized by the North Idaho Pride Alliance, the event was held at Coeur d'Alene City Park...