Two candidates will compete for one seat on the board of directors for the North Lake Recreational Sewer and Water District in the May 20 election on Tuesday.
North Lake’s five-member board is responsible for the administration of the district, which provides sewer service to Tamarack Resort, the City of Donnelly, and areas around the northern portion of Lake Cascade.
Current Board Chairman Kurt Holtan is being challenged for his seat on the board by David Bruce. Meanwhile, Michael Swanson is unopposed for a vacant seat on the board.
Seats held by John Sommerwerck, Julie Suitter, and Chris Renfro are not up for election this cycle.
Early voting continues until Friday at 5 p.m. at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade.
Valley Lookout sent a list of questions to Holtan and Bruce that were similar, but with adjustments to reflect their candidacy as either an incumbent or a challenger.
Each candidate’s exact responses are published below. Bruce submitted written responses to Valley Lookout, while Holtan answered the questions during a phone interview.
Incumbent – Kurt Holtan
What motivated you to seek re-election to the North Lake board?
We’ve accomplished a ton in his last five years, and I just wanted to see that keep moving in that in that way, so that it just keeps progressing that way.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing North Lake in the coming years and how would you like to address them?
I feel like we need to have a vision for decades, not just for the short term. As a board we’ve worked toward that by implementing the employee manuals and making sure the employees have a good place to work. But then also with our master planning, relying on engineering, relying on the attorneys, relying on input from the community, that’s how we’re going to progress as a district because the growth is inevitable.
How long have you been on the board and what are you most proud of from your tenure so far?
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I started on the board in 2020 and am proud of the things that we’ve been able to implement, like getting a master plan done. With our budgeting processes and stuff that we’ve implemented over the years, it’s become a more transparent district to anybody that wants to know what’s going on.
Do you have any specific goals you would like to achieve, or policy positions you would like to represent on the board?
Continuing to follow our master plan and protecting the community as well as the district moving forward. Goals would be to keep updating and upgrading our systems. The infrastructure is starting to show its age.
As far as policies, we’re actually working to condense our policies, update them, and make them more clear and concise to everybody.
What previous experience do you have that you believe suits you well on the board?
Just the stuff we’ve gone through to get to where we are today. All the various things that we’ve had to deal with as a district since I’ve been there, I think is what will help. That will definitely help me, and why I decided to stay part of this is because we have been through that, and we don’t want to replicate that again within the district. We want to keep moving forward in a positive and safety conscious light for not only the environment, but all the people within the district and outside as well.
What should voters know about you before casting their vote?
I’m very I’m very involved in the community. I love the community, and I just want to keep the district moving in the right direction for everybody involved.
Anything else not covered in the questions above?
I held many hats in the mortgage industry, from being a loan officer to all phases of management to executive management in my last decade of that career, which I retired from four years ago.
I still sit on the HOA board as the president of the HOA for the Meadows Subdivision.
I also took over a turbulent McCall Men’s Golf Association, and I’m now part of the advisory committee for the McCall Golf Course
Challenger – David Bruce
What motivated you to seek election to the North Lake board?
The growth in the area is a real concern. Like any other services, the capacity needs to meet the demand. My motivation to run was based on managing the growth in a sustainable manner that addresses all stakeholder concerns.
Are there aspects of the current board’s management that you would like to see changed? If so, please describe.
I do not think it is change as much as fully understanding the ramifications of growth. This growth needs to be managed, and that management may require a slowing of projects to assure the needs can be satisfied in the future.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing North Lake in the coming years and how would you like to address them?
I am a broken record on this but growth has to be managed. This will require careful planning and projecting. A systematic approach to charting growth coupled with projected capacity is key to the future.
Do you have any specific goals you would like to achieve, or policy positions you would like to represent on the board?
I believe there needs to be full transparency. Everyone in the Valley has witnessed dramatic changes. As a public entity it is imperative that the district relays all information and planning.
What previous experience do you have that you believe would suit you well on the board?
I have been involved in the commercial banking environment for several years. This includes financing subdivisions, public financing, and housing development. I have seen the inner workings and understand that there are different perspectives that need to be fully understood.
I have sat on various boards over the years in the private sector. While a different environment, it does require the same degree of involvement.
What should voters know about you before casting their vote?
Born and raised in Idaho as where my parents before me. I will not sell out the state and area for poorly planned projects. The State is a very special place that demands that we be good stewards.
Anything else not covered in the questions above?
I believe I am systematic in my approach to issues. It is too easy to come up with a solution just to keep things moving or satisfy a specific group. Take the time to address all aspects.
