Endorsement: Who should be Garden City’s first new mayor in 20 years? | Opinion
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November 2025 endorsements
Here are the Idaho Statesman’s endorsements in key city races in the Treasure Valley.
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For the first time in 20 years, Garden City will have a new mayor. That’s because five-term Mayor John Evans is not seeking reelection.
Seeking to take his place are three candidates: Bill Jacobs, Molly Lenty and Teresa Roundy.
Jacobs has been a City Council member for the past four years, and Evans has endorsed Jacobs to take his place. Jacobs recently retired as general manager at Far West Landscape and Garden Center. He is the former owner of Alloway Lighting and previously worked as an executive at tech companies, including HP. He also serves on the Strategic Growth Committee at the YMCA and volunteers at the Morrison Center.
Lenty is well-known around the Treasure Valley, primarily from her 25 years in a corporate role with Wells Fargo, where she was vice president of government and community relations, and from her two terms as College of Western Idaho trustee. She’s also been active in community service with several Idaho nonprofits, including Faces of Hope, United Way of Treasure Valley, Boys and Girls Club of Nampa and the Treasure Valley Education Partnership.
For us, the decision comes down to Jacobs or Lenty.
Roundy missed her appointment with the Idaho Statesman editorial board and then missed the Garden City Chamber of Commerce mayoral candidate forum the following week. Her inability to manage appointments running for office does not instill confidence in her ability to be a city’s mayor, which requires keeping appointments, attending public functions and running City Council meetings.
The differences between Jacobs and Lenty are notable.
Jacobs represents the status quo, a continuation of the leadership under Evans, while Lenty would diverge from current leadership and is critical of some city decisions.
We see positives and negatives to each candidate, but we give the edge to Jacobs in this race.
The Idaho Statesman endorses Bill Jacobs for Garden City mayor.
Jacobs would do a fine job of continuing the legacy of Evans. Jacobs might be more outgoing and proactive about establishing relationships.
Jacobs is the best “do no harm” candidate. He’s competent, knows the city well and comes off as a reasonable, stable force.
It’s easy to argue that Garden City is on the right track right now and is heading in the right direction. The Boardwalk mixed-use development has opened, and development along the Greenbelt is booming. If you want to continue on the current path, Jacobs would be an excellent choice.
Lenty would certainly shake things up, and she raises valid complaints about the city’s transparency.
She is well-connected in the greater Treasure Valley, and she has demonstrated her ability to communicate and coalesce others around a vision or project. Her performance on the CWI board is commendable.
We agree with Lenty about Garden City’s horrible track record on transparency and the handling of public records requests under city attorney Charles Wadams, and we would hope that whoever is mayor will seriously address some major problems within that office.
But Lenty comes off as unnecessarily negative, and she seems to be running on her personality, touting her leadership style and relationship building. Those are important skills for sure, but we’re not sure what specific solutions she has or how she’d do things differently.
Meanwhile, Jacobs brings more specifics about the needs of the city.
Jacobs wants to push forward an urban renewal district on the south side of Chinden Boulevard and promote a mix of housing types and densities. He also envisions a time when development of parts of the Ada County fairgrounds along the river is annexed into the city, and he talks about multiple density housing along the 42nd Street corridor.
Jacobs’ four years’ experience as a City Council member give him an edge in this race.
Statesman editorials are the opinion of the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.
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, assistant editor 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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