Director, Deputy Of Lobby For Cities Resign Group Begins Process Of Hiring Replacements

The Association of Idaho Cities is being stripped of its director and his deputy, and the organization’s top official says he does not know why.

Director Scott McDonald resigned last week and deputy Terri Otten has submitted her resignation effective Nov. 7.

Boise Mayor Brent Coles, chairman of the association’s board of directors, said “there seems to be a cycle in these things, but I’m not aware of what brought this to a head.” Coles said the rest of the staff remains in place.

The association once considered a model organization pressing for municipal interests in the Legislature and elsewhere has had a lackluster record in recent legislative sessions.

Coles said a search has begun for a new director. Although now is the critical time for preparing proposals to be considered by lawmakers when they convene in January, the mayor suggested the 2 months until the Legislature opens gives the association time to recruit.

“We’ll send out an ad for a director and that person can fill the other jobs,” he said. “The first choice is from the state of Idaho, someone who knows the Legislature, Idaho cities and how they work.”