Woody McEvers

Woody McEvers is an American restauranteer and politician who served as the 36th Mayor of COEUR d'Alene. He assumed office on September 3, 2024, following the resignation of his predecessor, Jim Hammond, who stepped down before completing his term. Prior to becoming mayor, McEvers served as a member of the Coeur d'Alene City Council.

Early life and business career

McEvers grew up in the Greater Los Angeles area and graduated from Reseda Charter High School in 1967. After high school, he briefly attended Pierce College while working in beach maintenance during the summers. In California, he also worked as a bartender and restaurant manager.

In 1977, McEvers relocated to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In 1983, after several years in food service, he and his brother Daren purchased Rustler's Roost, a breakfast restaurant originally located in downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The McEvers brothers continue to own and operate the restaurant, which was moved to Hayden, Idaho in late 2008.

Public service

McEvers began his public service in Coeur d'Alene in 1997 when he was appointed to the Traffic Safety Commission, serving for two years. From 1997 to 2002, he also served on the Coeur d'Alene Planning Commission for five years.

McEvers has chosen not to publicly affiliate with a political party, stating that he's "not a political guy" and has expressed his distaste for Kootenai County's political personality.

City Council

In 2002, McEvers was first elected to the Coeur d'Alene City Council, marking the beginning of more than two decades of elected public service during which he served five terms on the council.

In 2004, McEvers advocated for and ultimately helped launch CDA-TV, the city's government cable television station that allows citizens to view city council meetings. That same year, he chaired the Kootenai County Emergency Medical Services System Board and helped lay the groundwork for the county's eventual COVID-19 response.

In 2012, a group attempted to place a recall on the ballot targeting former Mayor Sandi Bloem and several council members, including McEvers. The recall effort, which stemmed from disputes over downtown development and the allocation of public funds, did not succeed because recall organizers collected only 3,700 of the 4,311 required signatures. Regarding the possibility of the recall appearing on the ballot, McEvers stated, "It will be what it will be. If they get it, they get it. (...) We can't say anything back, because then we're rude." {{#tag:mapframe| {"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [

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]} | zoom=18 | width=300 | height=300 }} McEvers, a skater himself, was honored for his contributions developing recreational facilities and rallying support for the city's skate park. In recognition of his efforts, the park, formerly known as Coeur d’Alene Skatepark, was renamed Woody McEvers Skate Park in 2021.

In July 2024, McEvers proposed and established a new chapter in the city's Municipal Code titled "[...]" following two incidents earlier that year. The first occurred in March during the NCAA tournament when individuals in vehicles shouted racial slurs at players from the Utah Utes women's basketball team. The second took place in June at McEuen Park, where elementary-aged tribal students were shouted at and racially harassed.

Mayorship

Following Hammond's resignation in August 2024, McEvers was unanimously appointed interim mayor, with his term officially beginning on September 3, 2024.

After a town hall meeting at Coeur d'Alene High School that garnered national attention, where Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris attempted to remove a woman who had spoken out in dissent. The woman was later physically removed, restrained, and zip-tied by LEAR Asset Management. McEvers condemned the incident. He stated, "We support the efforts of our Chief of Police and department personnel in investigating the incident" and "We have a long history of strongly supporting human rights, civil rights, and dignity for all. Citizens and visitors to Coeur d’Alene can count on these guiding principles."

In October 2025, McEvers declared a “Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk,” following the conservative activist’s death by gunfire while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10. The decision sparked debate at the accompanying City Council meeting, where students and residents criticized the proclamation as divisive and inappropriate, while others defended Kirk’s legacy and his Christian beliefs.

In early 2025, McEvers announced that he would seek election as mayor following his 16-month term. In November 2025, he lost to Dan Gookin, receiving 26.46% of the vote.

Personal life

McEvers is married. In a January 2025 interview, he noted that he had expected serving as mayor would give him more family time, but found himself even more engaged in city government. After losing the 2025 election, he looked forward to stepping away from elected office.