Steve Adams
A candidate for City Council, Position 5, City of Coeur d'Alene in the 2015 Nov. 3 Idaho General Election
City: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Age: 49
His words: “With urban renewal, it employs the economic component of fascism with private-public partnerships, and we’re a capitalist nation. In my book, there’s no room for it. … If there’s a business that wants to come to town and they need infrastructure, then we go to a vote of the people for a bond to finance that.”
His pitch: Adams favors the City Council taking over the urban renewal board, shrinking it and possibly dissolving the agency, as he believes the state urban renewal law circumvents the Idaho Constitution. He favors attracting business by reducing regulations such as permit fees and zoning, and maybe with a property tax freeze. Adams wants to cut property taxes, and he would like to repeal collective bargaining with city employees or negotiate wage freezes. He also wants to study how to reduce the number of full-time city employees.
Experience: Adams is seeking his second term on the City Council. Serves on the city’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee and the General Services Committee. In 2010-12 he Served as Kootenai County Republican Central Committee precinct chairman in 2010-12, and as Republican Party District 4 chairman. Owner and independent agent at Avalanche Insurance.
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Adams | 0 | 0% |
| Dan English (N) | 0 | 0% |
| Bruce MacNeil | 0 | 0% |
Related Coverage
Huckleberries: Coeur d’Alene newcomer misfires in challenge to incumbent Edinger
Toby Schindelbeck, a relatively recent California transplant, should fire the advisers helping him run his campaign for the Coeur d’Alene City Council. First, he angered some residents in a debate with Councilman Ron Edinger by saying he knows from his experience in California how to help Coeur d’Alene avoid becoming another Oakland. Or Spokane. Coeur d’Alene residents love being told by a newcomer – especially from California – what they’re doing wrong. Not. Secondly, Schindelbeck’s campaign circulated a flier stating that Edinger is a “registered Democrat” and a career politician. Many Lake City residents consider a Democrat to be almost as bad as an ex-Californian. Funny thing, though? Edinger is a registered Republican. Finally, the Second Amendment Alliance of southern Idaho supported Schindelbeck by depicting Edinger on its Facebook page as being anti-gun. But Edinger owns three guns and is part of a gun-loving and hunting family. The Second Amendmenters advocate permitless carry of concealed firearms. They misfired at Edinger because he voted for a city ordinance that banned guns from Coeur d’Alene parades. The ordinance was put in place years ago to prevent the defunct Aryan Nations from carrying loaded firearms during its reign of annoyance. So who’s counting? Is that strike three for Schindelbeck? We’ll find out on Nov. 3. Technical difficulties
Huckleberries: Dear ideologue councilman: I’ve got a deal for you
Unbowed, Coeur d’Alene Councilman Steve Adams didn’t retreat from criticism on Huckleberries that his ongoing votes against use of federal funding for city purchases, hires and projects are “goofy.” In fact, the conservative hardliner seized on the term “goofy” from Huckleberries Last to launch a counter strike at a council meeting last week. Said he, as the Coeur d’Alene Public TV Channel 19 camera rolled: “What Mr. Oliveria has done has used a juvenile tactic called a ‘logical fallacy’ in the form of an ad hominem attack. The reason he did this is because he didn’t have an intelligent debatable argument to present. So he resorted to name calling, which is very immature in my opinion.”
Huckleberries: Steve Adams’ principles trumps his electorate’s needs
Councilman Steve Adams of Coeur d’Alene continues to provide evidence that rigid ideology can be harmful to a community’s health. For almost four years, conservative hard-liner Adams has voted against taking federal money for purchases, road construction and city projects. He almost singlehandedly scuttled a mandated, megamillion-dollar expansion of the Coeur d’Alene sewage treatment plant because federal dollars were involved. Last week, he voted in a council subcommittee against federal funding that would help the city of Coeur d’Alene hire three more police officers. The city is several officers short. Adams figures the federal money goes away after three years, and Coeur d’Alene will then have to pick up the whole tab. However, he doesn’t realize that attrition and retirement will allow the department to move those three officers into open spots before the 75 percent federal funding expires. He took his, ahem, “principled” stand despite the outpouring of community support for Coeur d’Alene police after the May 5 slaying of Sgt. Greg Moore. Remember this vote if Adams runs for re-election this year. It’s a joke, son