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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Election results bring changes to cities across the state, with some exceptions…

In yesterday’s city elections across the state, some longtime mayors were defeated – including Nancy Chaney of Moscow and Tom Dale of Nampa – while others, including Brian Blad of Pocatello and Garret Nancolas of Caldwell, were easily re-elected. Boise voters narrowly rejected two bond measures for parks and fire, exceeding 60 percent in favor but falling short of the two-thirds mark, while re-electing three incumbents to the City Council. Coeur d’Alene voters rejected a slate of hard-line conservatives, instead electing candidates for mayor and council who were backed by Balance North Idaho, a PAC credited with helping moderates retake the Coeur d’Alene School Board last May; local business owner Steve Widmyer easily beat longtime City Hall critic Mary Souza for mayor.

In Post Falls, in a race between two city councilors for mayor, Ron Jacobson defeated Kerri Thoreson 60-40; meanwhile, incumbent councilwoman Betty Ann Henderson, who is married to Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, won re-election over two challengers.

The race for an open mayor’s seat in Idaho Falls was won by Rebecca Casper, the Post Register reports, who defeated three other candidates, including second-place finisher Sharon Parry, who will retain her seat on the City Council. Blackfoot is headed to a runoff Dec. 3 after Paul Loomis and Dan Cravens led a six-way race for mayor, but none had a majority.

The Lewiston Tribune reports that Lewiston Mayor Kevin Poole and Councilman Dennis Ohrtman were defeated, as four new council members were elected in a race with a 26.6 percent turnout. Among them: An 18-year-old LCSC student. Bill Lambert, a Safeway manager, defeated longtime Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney.

The Twin Falls Times-News reports that Filer Mayor Robert Templeman was defeated by City Councilman Richard Dunn; Jerome Mayor John Shine was defeated by David Davis; and Burley Mayor Terry Greenman appeared headed toward a defeat by challenger Merlin Smedley.

In Pocatello, the Idaho State Journal reports, a rematch between Mayor Brian Blad and former Mayor Roger Chase had a lopsided result, with Blad winning 66.4 percent to Chase’s 27.7 percent, four years after Blad first defeated Chase in a close race. Other close races around the state included Dale’s loss to Henry in Nampa; final, unofficial results showed just 113 votes separating the two, leaving Henry with 44.89 percent to Dale’s 43.45 percent.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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