Endorsement: Who should be Meridian’s mayor? Here’s the Idaho Statesman’s pick | Opinion
Meridian Mayor Robert Simison has earned a second term as mayor of Idaho’s second-largest city.
Simison has guided the city of Meridian with a steady hand, and his answers to our questions were well-reasoned and measured.
The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorses Simison for reelection.
His challenger, Mike Hon, offered only that he “could do a better job” as mayor than Simison. He mostly seems to take issue with Simison’s declaration of support for the Boise Pride Festival and suggests that Simison is following in the footsteps of Boise.
Hon, a businessman who is in real estate, lists his top priorities as safety, family and community.
On the first, he said he wants to hire more police officers and firefighters, which the city is already doing under Simison. He said he wants Meridian to be family-friendly and safe, two qualities the city already has.
Hon was behind an effort to dissolve the Meridian Library District over what his group said was pornography in libraries. Hon declined to discuss the effort, saying it was in the past and that the mayor isn’t involved in the libraries.
On his mayoral campaign website, Hon complains about apartment complexes and rails against the city’s sexual orientation and gender identity ordinance and even complains about “open borders with Mexico.”
Hon seems to be more interested in dog whistles and chasing boogeymen than solving real problems facing the community.
Simison lists improvements in public safety as his biggest accomplishment in his first term, citing such things as two new fire stations along with Meridian’s first police precinct station, the addition of 30 firefighters and five administrative positions, dedicating six school resource officers to elementary schools and adding six new police officers and opening a scenario village training center.
Simison rightly recognizes that managing growth is the city’s biggest challenge, specifically transportation. This editorial board doesn’t agree with Simison’s focus primarily on roads as the solution to traffic woes. We’d rather see a more long-term vision from Simison when it comes to public transportation. Hon doesn’t offer much of an alternative other than a goal of widening roads to get more traffic onto the highway.
That said, roads can’t be ignored, and Simison rightly touts a $2.5 million city investment toward a project to put a much-needed overpass over Interstate 84 at Linder Road as one of his accomplishments.
As Simison said four years ago when this editorial board endorsed him for mayor, he continues to promise that Meridian will become the “health care epicenter of Idaho,” citing the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Idaho State University’s satellite campus, St. Luke’s hospital and Blue Cross of Idaho. This is a good vision to have.
Simison supports the use of urban renewal as an economic development tool and supports “a more vertical downtown.”
We’d like to see Simison be more visionary for Meridian and try to prevent a future of urban sprawl and traffic congestion.
Simison’s challenger doesn’t present much of an alternative, though, let alone a bold vision for Meridian’s future.
Simison has done a fine job in his first term and deserves your vote for a second term.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we write endorsements
Who decides the endorsements?
Members of Idaho Statesman editorial board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is composed of journalists and community members. Members of the Statesman editorial board are: Statesman editor Chadd Cripe, opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Statesman editorial board meets with political candidates and asks them a series of questions about policy issues. The editorial board discusses the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. The editorial board generally will not endorse a candidate who does not agree to an interview with the board members.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well-prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats. We make recommendations about who the best-qualified candidates for these jobs are.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of the Statesman’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
Do I have to vote for the candidate the Statesman endorses?
Of course not. An endorsement is just our recommendation based on the candidates’ backgrounds and their answers to editorial board questions.
Can I disagree with the Statesman’s endorsement?
Of course you can. We encourage voters to do their own research and choose the candidate who best represents your views.
Want your say?
Readers are encouraged to express their thoughts by submitting a letter to the editor. Click on “Submit a letter or opinion” at idahostatesman.com/opinion.
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