Not since 2010 has a Democrat sought this Canyon office. What the candidates say (or not)

Incumbent Republican Zach Brooks is set to face off with political newcomer Kyle Thompson for the Canyon County Commission seat in District 3 – the lone contested race in the county.

Thompson is the first Democrat to run for commissioner in Canyon County since 2010, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Brooks, who was elected in 2022, seeks a second term. He will contest Thompson after defeating challenger Richard Williams in the May primary with 59.1% of the votes, the Statesman reported.

District 3, located in Nampa south of Interstate 84 and west of McDermott Road, borders Ada County to the east.

The election is for a four-year term. The candidate elected will become one of three commissioners, one for each voting district. Two county commissioners are elected every four years, one for a two-year term and one for a four-year term. Commission candidates are required to live in their districts, but elections are held countywide.

All other Canyon County candidates on the ballot are uncontested Republicans.

For this Voter Guide story, the Statesman sent surveys to candidates asking for their top priorities and how they plan to serve their district.

Brooks did not respond to the survey, nor to the Statesman’s request for comment on 24 driving-related infractions he incurred in Idaho that the Statesman found as part of its routine candidate background checks. The infractions, which spanned from 1996 to 2019, included speeding, following too closely, failure to obey traffic devices and not using a seat belt.

Thompson’s responses to the survey are presented below, unedited. Use the horizontal scroll bar underneath each candidate to read the full Q&A. You also can click on the chart and drag horizontally.

Learn more about these races and other local elections at IdahoStatesman.com/Election. Find more Treasure Valley candidate Q&As like this in the Statesman’s Voter Guide.

Polls open for in-person early voting Oct. 21. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Rose Evans

Idaho Statesman

208-863-0443

Rose covers Meridian, Eagle, Kuna and Star for the Idaho Statesman. She grew up in Massachusetts and previously interned for a local newspaper in Vermont before taking a winding path here. If you like reading stories like hers, please consider supporting her work with a digital subscription. Support my work with a digital subscription