Who’s running for Boise City Council? Explore the candidates in our Voter Guide
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Elections 2023 in Ada & Canyon counties
Learn who’s running for mayor and city council in your city. See who’s contributing campaign money to whom — and how much. Follow our coverage of the November 2023 elections in Idaho’s Treasure Valley.
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For the first time, Boise voters will elect every City Council member by geographic district, which promises to bring new faces to the council after the November election.
The six districts cover different portions of the city, and residents will have a choice only in electing a council member who lives in their district.
Two districts — 1 and 6 — have no races this year. Luci Willits and Jimmy Hallyburton, both incumbents, were the only candidates to register in each district. State law requires that they be installed and their elections canceled.
District 1 is in far West Boise. District 6 covers Northwest Boise and the North End west of 15th Street.
Candidates are focused on growth, affordable housing and city services like libraries. The Idaho Statesman asked questions of each candidate. Their responses are below.
In District 2, incumbent Colin Nash — who was appointed by McLean earlier this year — faces three challengers: Grant Burgoyne, Hillary Smith and Jesse Gonzales. District 2 runs south of Garden City as far south as the Interstate 184 Connector.
District 3 covers the Bench and most of Southwest Boise. All four candidates — Chris Blanchard, Kathy Corless, Josh Johnston and Theresa Vawter — would be new to elected office.
So would whoever is elected in District 4, where Jordan Morales faces Janet Burke. Burke did not respond to the Statesman’s questions.
In District 5, Meredith Stead — who was also appointed by McLean earlier this year — faces challenger Jeremy Gugino. District 5 covers the East End, Harris Ranch, most of downtown and the North End as far west as 15th Street.
The Statesman completes background checks on each candidate. The Statesman found four bankruptcies linked to Gonzales that date from the 1990s but were not mentioned in his Voter Guide responses. Gonzales confirmed the bankruptcies with the Statesman.
Blanchard also declared bankruptcy in the late 1990s, which he confirmed with the Statesman, adding that he paid back all his creditors. In 2018 and 2019, the government imposed tax liens on his home for missed quarterly payroll filings related to a company he owned called Longdrop Cider Company, he said. Blanchard said the liens have all been paid. The bankruptcy and liens were not listed in his Voter Guide responses.
Corless told the Statesman she declared bankruptcy in 2010, and that it has been discharged and resolved in court. The bankruptcy was not listed in her Voter Guide responses.
“The bankruptcy has been resolved and no longer reflects on my credit record, and therefore I didn’t think it was relevant as it wasn’t active,” Corless said by text.
Boiseans can vote absentee by mail so long as they request a ballot from the county clerk by Friday, Oct. 27. Absentee ballots can be mailed back to Ada County or left at a dropbox. The ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. Residents can also vote early in-person from Monday, Oct. 23 to Friday, Nov. 3., or in person or on Election Day.
Learn more about these races and other local elections at IdahoStatesman.com/Elections.
Swipe below to see all the candidates, or use the slider below them.
This story was originally published October 19, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
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