Meet the Candidate
Joe Alfieri established himself as an important new conservative voice in the Coeur d’Alene political scene during his run for mayor in 2021. Though unsuccessful in his bid, in his first political campaign, Joe’s message of managed growth and preservation of traditional North Idaho values resonated with the public, and he narrowly lost against a seasoned 30-year veteran of politics. On election day he garnered 55% of the vote, winning 18 of the city’s 25 precincts, and tying in one other. It was only the absentee ballots that proved the difference and prevented an upset win against an entrenched establishment candidate. “We gave it our best shot, and I’m very proud of what we did in the campaign. I had a fantastic team to help me, and enthusiastic and generous support from so many people. The issues that we focused on were the right ones, and I’m not about to give up that fight. We need smaller, less intrusive government and lower taxes. We need to get the government out of the way of the people, and we need to reign in the bureaucratic state’s regulations that strangle our freedoms. I want to see the grocery tax eliminated, and now. It’s the most reprehensible tax and hurts people who can least afford to pay. So now I want to take my fight to Boise, to represent the people of my district.”
Biography
A well known and respected part of the Coeur d’Alene business community, before retiring, Joe previously served as business developer for a local company, leading it to record sales over a four year period. Joe served on the CDA Economic Development Corporation’s Jobs Plus Action Committee, and chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce Membership Outreach Committee. He helped develop CoeurFest, and his leadership was honored with a Committee of the Year award by the chamber.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Joe grew up in the working class neighborhood of Bensonhurst. “Did you see the movie Saturday Night Fever? That was my neighborhood. I had many a slice of pizza from Lenny’s and danced at that disco where Travolta strutted his stuff. (The floor was not lit.)The opening sequence for Welcome Back Kotter was shot from the roof of the building where I lived. And that’s my High School, New Utrecht. No, we weren’t the sweathogs.”
Vic Caron,Bob Kurtland, Jim Egan.
The photo is by Thomas Vandermeulen,
another partner.
Joe was the founder of New York City’s first retail computer store, ComputerLand of New York City. The store’s history is currently documented in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., and on their website. Joe bought and built his first computer in 1978. A year later, he flew to California to place a deposit on a ComputerLand franchise. Back in New York, he assembled a team of partners, then found a suitable site, at 58 West 44th Street, in the heart of the city and across the street from the famed Algonquin Hotel. He hired a contractor, and directed the construction of the store. With staff and inventory in place, ComputerLand of New York City opened in October of 1980, and quickly reached $1m in sales.
After selling the business, he went on to a role as type director for one of the city’s top advertising agencies, McCaffrey and McCall, directing the typographic look for clients such as Mercedes-Benz and Air Canada. Upon moving to California, he was a founding partner in a high tech advertising agency, advising small businesses and municipalities on the best use of social media and marketing. Additionally, he taught web development and graphic design for major clients such as EDS and General Motors.
Joe and his wife Caroline became refugees from California’s Bay Area in 2013. Caroline was born in Idaho, and after visiting her parents, they decided to relocate to Coeur d’Alene when they became empty nesters.
He is the author of one novel, Kingfish Ascendant: Book One, The Rise of Huey Long (available on Amazon), and is also an artist, working in water color and acrylic paints.