The Hayden Citizen

10/08/2025

Hayden City Council voted in a meeting on Tues. Oct 7 to hold a public hearing on Nov. 18 regarding the expansion of the Hayden Urban Renewal District. Potential projects the district could fund include a civic center, roads and intersection improvements, and parks. The expansion is ~19 acres (in addition to the existing 720 acres of Hayden in the district).

Council voted 3-1 to schedule the public hearing and give notice to the public. DePriest, Roetter, and Shafer voted for the motion. White voted against the motion.

10/01/2025

Read the Hayden City Council Candidate Questionnaire responses from DePriest, Sommer, and White. It’s on our website - where you can also sign up for our email list.

DePriest aims to continue low growth and density and discusses options for law enforcement.

Sommer brings the attack and says: “I have watched this city council, mayor, and staff misuse laws and procedures that are designed to control those who exercise the powers of government. They have wasted time, repeatedly violated other council members’ rights, and demonstrated poor temperament and judgment.”

White aims for more transparency, accountability, and good governance.

Erickson continues to remain silent - THC did not receive a response from his registered email address.

09/20/2025

Ed DePriest argues that Hayden is transparent despite claims to the contrary from other candidates. He also cites evidence of Hayden’s lack of high density growth over the last few years.

09/20/2025

Luke Sommer has a new press release about personal attacks made against him as he campaigns for Hayden City Council against Ed DePriest.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Luke Sommer Stands Strong Against Smear Campaign, Focuses on Hayden’s Future

Hayden, ID — Luke Sommer, candidate for Hayden City Council, is calling out misinformation being spread by political opponents and reaffirming his commitment to honesty, transparency, and service.

“As I launch this campaign, I want the people of Hayden to hear directly from me. My opponents are recycling falsehoods and half-truths to distract voters from the real issues we face as a community.

In 2006, my oldest child, Elliott (Luke Elliott Sommer), a former U.S. Army Ranger, committed a serious crime. Elliott carries my exact same name but has always gone by his middle name, which has led to confusion. Unfortunately, some of my opponents have exploited this fact to imply that records or statements about him were actually about me. That is categorically false.

My son joined the Army on his 17th birthday, served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and perhaps other places, and came home with PTSD and bipolar disorder. Like many veterans, he has carried the scars of war, and tragically, those struggles may have contributed to his choices. When Elliott confessed to me, I insisted he turn himself in. When he did not, I arranged for his capture because I feared for his safety — whether from self-harm or a deadly encounter with police — and for the safety of others. It was the hardest decision of my life, but I acted with integrity, responsibility, and love.

Years later, during a hearing to reduce his federal sentence, Elliott made accusations against me — without my knowledge or chance to respond. I was not on trial, nor was I ever accused or convicted of any crime in connection with that case. Yet, these statements are now being weaponized by those who want to tear me down.

Another false claim involves a so-called ‘citizen’s arrest.’ The prosecuting attorney reviewed it, declined to prosecute, the judge dismissed it, and the state police later expunged it. The record is clear: there was no wrongdoing on my part.

This is the same political playbook we’ve seen used against President Trump — the weaponization of accusation. As Rush Limbaugh warned years ago, in politics it’s too often ‘not the nature of the evidence; it’s the seriousness of the charge.’ That’s exactly what’s happening here. Falsehoods and half-truths are being repackaged to damage reputations, regardless of evidence.

I caution my opponents: stop spreading falsehoods. Hayden’s citizens deserve better than the politics of personal destruction. Our community deserves a campaign about solutions — safe neighborhoods, responsible growth, and honest leadership. That’s what I stand for, and that’s the leadership I will bring to City Council.”

09/13/2025

Hayden City Council Candidate Press Release

Luke Sommer has announced his candidacy for the Hayden City Council in the November election. He is the recommended candidate of the Kootenai County Republican Party.

Luke Sommer first moved to Kootenai County in 2002. He is married to his beautiful and talented wife, Rowena. The father of five grown children, he spent nearly 25 years in Canada, where he witnessed firsthand the dangers of living under a semi-socialist state. Luke has been a realtor since 1987, selling real estate in California, British Columbia, and Idaho. Luke has witnessed several real estate booms and busts. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago (’82) and Trinity Western University in Langley, BC (’85). In 1985, Luke studied the International and Comparative Law of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Later, in 1988, Luke ran for the United States House of Representatives as the Republican nominee in California’s 13th Congressional District (San Jose; Bay Area). Luke currently volunteers on the Kootenai Hospital Board of Directors as a Trustee and he and his wife attend Hayden Bible Church.

As a husband, father of five, and a resident of Hayden for over 12 years, Luke said he has become increasingly concerned for Hayden’s future. Luke understands that Hayden ought to develop a mix of different housing types, but he maintains that there has been too much of a rush to develop higher-density housing.

"I’m running for Hayden City Council to bring focus and efficiency to city government, and to help bring policy and practice back into line with the people’s desire for appropriate growth. Hayden’s fast growth has happened largely because the city council lacks transparency in its decision-making process. I have been a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians for 13 years, and I am alarmed that city council meetings are often poorly run, with insufficient public input, and that council meeting minutes prior to 2025 are no longer posted on the city website. Meeting minutes serve as a record of the actions taken by our local government. Hayden city government needs to be transparent and efficient, re-embrace low and slow growth, make growth pay for itself, and avoid entanglements with outside groups that have agendas aligned with higher-density, centralizing tendencies. I look forward to serving the people of Hayden and seeing our city thrive."

09/10/2025

City of Hayden - Law Enforcement Public Service Announcement
- September 8, 2025

You can read the full post from the City, but the summary is: "Stay tuned as we work together towards a future that elevates our commitment to law enforcement across our city and our community."

The City does not yet have a solution to the law enforcement funding problem, and we expect this to be a recurring topic during the 2025 campaigns for the two Hayden City Council seats in the Nov. 4 election.

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/haydenid/Docs/Home%20Page/LatestNews/Law%20Enforcement%20PSA%2009092025.pdf?t=202509091732430

Law Enforcement Public Service Announcement

Over the past months there have been many community conversations over the City of Hayden's role with its law enforcement services. Much of what has been said publicly at Council and County Commissioner meetings has been in response to work that has been done by City and County leadership to negotiate its future law enforcement service.

It is important for the City to communicate with its citizens, its business partners and property owners our commitment to ensuring public safety that sets a high standard within our community.

More information: https://cms2.revize.com/revize/haydenid/Docs/Home%20Page/LatestNews/Law%20Enforcement%20PSA%2009092025.pdf?t=202509091732430

09/05/2025

Per recent social media posts, the KCRCC will be recommending Luke Sommer and Sandy White for the two Hayden City Council positions.

The county Republican organization endorsed White in 2021 for the same position which she won, and endorsed Sommer in 2023 when he lost the race for Mayor to current incumbent Alan Davis.

09/04/2025

Hayden City Council Candidate Press Release

Ed DePriest, a retired teacher, coach, and 30-year Kootenai County resident, has announced his re-election campaign for Hayden City Council, Seat #2. A 20-year Hayden resident, DePriest is running on his record of keeping promises and standing up for local families and taxpayers.

“Four years ago, I promised to better manage growth and density and make sure taxpayers—not politicians—decided on major tax increases,” DePriest said. “I kept those promises, and I’ll keep fighting for Hayden families, homeowners, and small businesses.” His campaign slogan is “Promises Made – Promises Kept”.

During his first term, DePriest heard Hayden residents loud and clear: growth, density, and traffic were the top concerns. He responded by putting forth four major zone code text changes and the Standard of Approval regarding the Context of the Neighborhood, all of which were adopted, which addressed new development. The results speak for themselves — over the past four years, there have been ZERO high-density developments in Hayden and no developments of more than four dwellings per acre. Ed believes that the zone code changes have brought growth and density to the point of managing as best as is legally allowed. DePriest continues to work on finalizing amendments to the city Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map.

DePriest has also worked to protect taxpayers. When the sheriff’s contract costs rose, he put forth to put the question on the ballot, giving voters the final say. This year he proposed (which was approved) rejecting the city’s automatic 3% property tax hike and to also trim $68,000 from the budget to give families and small businesses relief and offset the 3% tax increase.

The primary issues moving into the future are going to be funding law enforcement and infrastructure needs in Hayden and continued growth and density management.

Looking ahead, DePriest said Hayden must prepare for rising law enforcement costs and more than $55 million in needed road and sewer projects. “Outside developers and agencies don’t get to dictate Hayden’s future. We do. I will keep standing up for our residents, protecting small businesses, and making sure Hayden remains a place where families can thrive,” said DePriest.

In his first term, Ed DePriest has represented the city on the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (KMPO) board; the Panhandle Area Council, and is currently involved in representing the city on the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board. Ed DePriest has participated on the Regional Housing and Growth Partnership. Ed attends numerous community events and activities. Ed is available to all citizens through phone and email. Ed DePriest meets regularly with citizens individually and has held community meetings.

“Hayden deserves leaders who keep their word. That’s my record, and that’s my commitment,” DePriest said.

08/29/2025

Hayden City Council Candidate Press Release

Hayden City Councilwoman Sandy White has announced her candidacy for re-election to Hayden City Council Seat 4, in the upcoming election on November 4, 2025. She has served on Hayden City Council since January 2022.

Sandy and her husband Alan have been married for 44 years and have 3 married children and 9 grandchildren. Sandy enjoys serving her family and community.

Throughout her first term, Sandy has advocated that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly while prioritizing core services, such as law enforcement. She is also a strong advocate for Republican and Biblical values—faith, family, freedom, impartiality, integrity, and diligence.

Her 2025 campaign platform centers on Transparency, Accountability, and Good Governance.

Among her key accomplishments, after discovering that the City of Hayden had conflicting approaches to the proper use of the Consent Agenda in the meetings, she co-authored House Bill 172 on Consent Agendas, which unanimously passed the Idaho House and Senate. She has championed transparency by advocating for video recording of meetings and increased availability of public documents.

Her community involvements have included running the 2024 Republican Presidential Caucus for six precincts and being active in her church.

“I believe that government works best when it is open, honest, and accountable to the people it serves. I am proud of my work to strengthen transparency at every level, from co-authoring legislation to making sure our local meetings are accessible by video. On city council, I will prioritize responsible budgeting, support for essential services such as law enforcement, and protection of private property rights.”

(Any Hayden candidate can send their press releases to the Hayden Citizen.)

08/29/2025

David Hugh Erickson has filed to run for election for Hayden City Council seat number 4.

He will be running for the same seat as Sandy White. We will provide more information about his campaign as it becomes available.

08/29/2025

Sandy White has filed to run for re-election for Hayden City Council seat number 4. We will provide more information about her campaign as it becomes available.

08/28/2025

Luke Sommer has filed to run for Hayden City Council seat number 2 - the seat currently held by Ed DePriest.

We will provide more information about Sommer’s campaign when it becomes available.

Ed DePriest has not yet made a public statement to announce a re-election campaign but he has begun posting on his city council candidate page including reasoning behind his recent votes on budget related items at city council meetings. We will provide more information about his decision to run (or not) and his campaign as it becomes available.

(Photo of Luke Sommer provided by Luke Sommer.)