Who’s got your vote for Eagle City Council? Meet 7 candidates in the running
Seven Eagle City Council candidates are set to vie for two at-large seats after two sitting council members opted not to run for reelection.
The slew of candidates is divided in political experience, with some hoping to bring a fresh perspective to the city and others touting proven leadership in years or even decades past. Three of the candidates have held or now hold elected positions within the city of Eagle, including a former mayor, while three are political newcomers. One is a former City Council member and mayor of a city in California but has not yet held an elected office in Eagle.
But in responses to an Idaho Statesman survey, all candidates spoke to the importance of dealing with the challenges of rapid growth. Eagle’s population has more than tripled since 2000, according to the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho. Today, the city has nearly 39,000 residents.
The candidates, in the order they will be listed on the ballot, are: Robert Gillis, Beth Haney, Tom Letz, Nancy Merrill (the former Eagle mayor), Kenny Pittman, Steve Bender and Danielle Davis. Incumbents Helen Russell and Melissa Gindlesperger, whose terms are set to expire on Dec. 31, will not seek reelection.
Because the city has fewer than 100,000 residents, Eagle City Council elections are held at-large rather than by district, unlike in Meridian and Boise. That means Eagle voters can cast two votes among the seven candidates.
Those elected will serve for four years.
For this Voter Guide, the Statesman sent surveys to each of the candidates for their thoughts on issues facing Eagle, including growth, and how they plan to collaborate with other elected officials. The candidates’ responses are unedited. Swipe below to see all the candidates’ responses, or click on the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom.
To learn more about this race and other local elections, go to IdahoStatesman.com/Election. Find more Treasure Valley candidate Q&As like this in the Statesman’s Voter Guide.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 7:39 AM.
