Politics
State & County Offices Deadline March 13
If you want to challenge any of your state and county officials, you have until March 13 (Friday the 13th!) to file for the May 19 primary election. Here is a press release from the Ada Clerk’s office: Candidates must file a declaration of candidacy for the following state and county races by March 13th […]
Ada Sheriff And Commish Trade Barbs
The recent Democratic pile-on of Mike Bloomberg seems like a love fest compared to vicious attacks Friday between Ada Sheriff Steve Bartlett and Commish Rick Visser. The GUARDIAN has obtained an e-mail exchange between the two County Republican officials which reveals there is little in the way of mutual admiration. The term “dysfunctional” is fired […]
Gannon Seeks Taxes From Government Tenants
Boise Dem representative John Gannon has a bill co-sponsored by Repub Mike Moyle to charge taxes to to private entities using public real estate. He wants to amend the Idaho constitution to include: “any property belonging to the state, counties, towns, cities, villages, school districts … or public libraries” that’s leased to a private entity […]
Legislature– Quit Picking On Boise
The Idaho Legislature doesn’t have Dave Bieter to kick aground anymore, so they need to quit picking on us. Former Mayor Dave Bieter was often downright pugnacious with legislators, but he is gone and there is new blood at Boise’s City Hall. The statehouse boys need to give Lauren Mclean an the new council a […]
Too Many People, Too Much Hype
Idaho State PARKS has more happy campers than they can handle, forcing the department to make the wise move to stop advertising for visitors. The GUARDIAN has long held the GROWTHOPHOBE position that state and local governments should do the same thing–stop paying businesses to come to Idaho. It makes no sense to us for […]
Legislator Targets Urban Renewal Boards
A bill that appears to be aimed at former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and the Capital City Development Corp. (CCDC) has been proposed by a North Idaho Legislator. Sen. Mary Souza of Coeur d’Alene appeared in front of the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee Thursday. The bill has two parts – including a provision […]
Ludwig Seeks “Tweak” To Stadium Ordinance
The GUARDIAN pressed former City Councilor Scot Ludwig about his efforts to seek an amendment to the ordinance which prohibits use of public funds for any stadium project worth more than $5 million in either private or public funds. Ludwig adamantly denied any connection to a current or future stadium project. “All I want is […]
Developers Should Pay For Prisons
For the past five years Growthophobes have been fed a steady diet of proud proclamations that Idaho is the fastest growing state in the country, #1 place to retire, most bike friendly, etc. Looks like we are also in the top ten when it comes to spending to put away criminals. But rather than tax […]
“Clan McLean” Arrives At Boise Mayor’s Office
With police bagpipes wailing and drums beating, Lauren Mclean and “Clan McLean” marched into the city council chambers Tuesday night as Boise’s first elected female mayor took office in front of a standing room only crowd. McLean exchanged a very brief arms length handshake from former Mayor Dave Bieter as he strode across the dais […]
Bieter’s Lack Of Understanding Should Serve As Signal To New Crop Of Boise Politicos
We have read two post election interviews with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and it is obvious to the GUARDIAN that he lost the race because he lost touch with his constituents. In a STATESMAN piece based on a letter to a supporter, Bieter was quoted complaining that it was terrible to allow “a small minority” […]
On Again Off Again Bieter Staffer Back
Exhibiting the precise type of behavior that lost him the Boise Mayor’s race, Mayor Dave Bieter rehired a campaign staffer into a city job the day after his failed election bid. BOISEDEV reports that Amber Pence served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs until June of this year. As of December 4th, she is back in […]
McLean Wins By near SUPER MAJORITY
POLITICAL COMMENTARY By DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor Boise City Council President Lauren McLean is now “Mayor-elect” after trouncing incumbent Mayor Dave Bieter in the Tuesday special runoff election. The win was a foregone conclusion for most savvy observers, fueled by a deep seated “Bieter fatigue” among the electorate. Bieter was able to garner only 30% […]
Non-Partisan Mayor Race Turns Right
When we got our Friday mail at the Boise GUARDIAN world headquarters it was a bit of a shock and a bigger amusement to see Donald Trump supporter and self-proclaimed “CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN” David H. Leroy supporting Dave Bieter in what has jokingly been called a “non-partisan” mayor race. Leroy is a fixture in Republican politics […]
Government Sponsored Growth Fans Tax Hikes
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Ada County’s property tax notices have come out. Any way you care to spin it, growthophobes who have lived here for any length of time are funding the growth to benefit the mortgage lenders, developers, contractors, planners, consultants, etc. Growth is costly and does NOT pay for itself. There are […]
Incumbent Politicos Favor North End, Ignore Bench In Rezone Attempt
Mr. Wiebe’s post illustrates the current administration’s bias favoring developers and those who profit from growth as well as obvious disrespect for Boise Bench residents when it comes to planning and advice on a zoning ordinance update. GUEST OPINION By Henry Wiebe, Vista Neighborhood Assoc. Pres. Last Thursday, as the Vista Neighborhood Assoc. President, at […]
The Joys (and benefits) Of Incumbency
The GUARDIAN got slammed Thursday with requests to “start a thread” on the brilliant move by Mayor Dave Bieter’s handlers to start a PODCAST on the city website to give hizzoner some exposure during the runoff campaign. After 16 years in office, this is his first podcast. As we have often said, Team Dave and […]
Links To Mayor Runoff Race
KTVB Channel 7 has video of the City Club CANDIDATE FORUM with Lauren McLean and Dave Bieter. Bill Manny does a pretty good job moderating the questions from the audience as well. Don Day at BOISEDEV did a nice interview with incumbent Dave Bieter. Bieter refused to say if he would repeat his letter in […]
Nearly 70% Vote Against Bieter
Tuesday’s local election results had incumbent Boise Mayor Dave Bieter failing to garner even one-third of the votes as city council president Lauren McLean came in with more than 45% of the votes cast among the seven candidates. According to city ordinance, a run off election will be held December 3, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving […]
Local Media (Un)Covers City Election
Local media is full of stories today (Wednesday) about the local election. And folks, it ain’t a pretty picture. BSU RADIO has a story of a fund raising member of Team Dave mixing city work with campaign work. Hayley Harding at the STATESMAN details some of the big spenders in the mayor and council elections–few […]
Where Boise Candidates Live
EDITOR NOTE–We feel it is important to know where those who seek to represent us and spend our taxes may live within the city. As a concession to privacy, we omitted exact addresses in the list provided by GUARDIAN reader Steve Hulme. There has been some discussion, particularly in the City Council campaigning, regarding the […]
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