Canyon County officials call for commissioner to resign, citing defamation, loss of trust
Eight Canyon County elected officials called for Commissioner Leslie Van Beek’s resignation Tuesday, citing misuse of confidential information and defamation of elected officials and county employees.
In a letter provided to the Idaho Statesman by Van Beek, the elected officials said she had been using nonpublic information to pursue a personal agenda by defaming officials to others and repeating “unfounded claims.”
The letter said the officials believe Van Beek “failed to abide the lawful limitations on (her) position as one-third of the Board of County Commissioners.” The letter also said the officials had repeatedly attempted to communicate their concerns to Van Beek but failed.
“We have necessarily concluded that you are either unable or unwilling to work with us in a sustained focus on issues of importance or in a collaborative and respectful manner for any meaningful period of time,” the letter said.
Van Beek also provided the Statesman with her response letter on Wednesday morning.
She said she challenged the elected officials’ actions and intentions over the last several months, but her challenges have been consistent with her conscience, laws and the interests of Canyon County residents.
Van Beek said she wanted to hear the officials’ specific evidence of defamation and unfounded claims. She said she has invited officials to participate in discussions about their concerns.
“I have never believed in the ‘good old boys’ (or girls) system of continuing to do something merely because ‘it has always been done that way,’ ” Van Beek wrote.
She did not indicate plans to resign.
The elected officials calling for her resignation include Commissioners Keri Smith and Pam White, Sheriff Kieran Donahue, Clerk Chris Yamamoto, Treasurer Traci Lloyd, Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Taylor, Assessor Brian Stender and Coroner Jennifer Crawford.
The elected officials and Van Beek did not immediately return requests for comment.
Van Beek represents District 1, which includes Middleton, Star, east Notus, Caldwell and north Nampa. She was elected in 2018 to fill former Commissioner Steve Rule’s vacant seat. She was reelected in 2020, when she ran unopposed.
Van Beek was born and raised in the Treasure Valley and graduated from Nampa High School. She has lived in Caldwell with her husband, Dale, for over 20 years. The couple raised five children on their small family dairy farm, whose business operations Van Beek worked on.
Van Beek was a stay-at-home mother before being elected to the commission. The family no longer farms in Canyon County.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 11:47 AM.
