Endorsement: Our top picks in crowded Eagle City Council race | 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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The race for two open spots on the Eagle City Council is crowded, with seven people in the running.
Those running are:
- Steve Bender, a retired quality assurance officer and current Eagle Sewer Board member and state treasurer with the Idaho Republican Party.
- Danielle Davis, a senior tax accountant.
- Robert Gillis, a retired law enforcement officer.
- Beth Haney, a nurse practitioner who moved from California about a year ago where she was a City Council member and mayor in Yorba Linda.
- Tom Letz, a contractor courier.
- Nancy Merrill, former Eagle mayor and council member and former director of the Idaho Parks and Recreation Department.
- Kenny Pittman, a marketing director for an Eagle payroll business and former Eagle City Council member.
Eagle has gone through some growing pains the past few years, shedding some of its exclusive, small-town community vibe for a fast-growing city that’s now around 35,000 people.
The city is on its third mayor in as many terms, and controversies, lawsuits and questionable decisions have roiled local politics.
The two best candidates to get Eagle back on the right track are Nancy Merrill and Tom Letz.
The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorses Merrill and Letz in the election for Eagle City Council.
Merrill is as close as you can come to not only Eagle royalty but Idaho Republican royalty, as well.
In addition to being an Eagle City Council member and mayor, Merrill Park is named after her longtime farm family, who donated land for the park. She was also appointed director of Idaho State Parks and Recreation by then-Gov. Butch Otter, who endorses Merrill for her return to Eagle politics.
Letz is perhaps an unconventional choice for City Council, but he’s clearly been involved in watching city politics for a long time and knows the issues. He would bring a practical, “everyman” perspective to City Council.
He said he is concerned about the city’s budget expanding from under $30 million to $68 million in six years and wants to get “on top of what’s going on with the budget.”
He specifically criticizes the shooting park project as an unnecessary expenditure and wants to slow down the city’s growth rate.
Letz also wants to change how variances are granted to developers, arguing that the current council gives too many variances that favor developers instead of following the city’s established codes.
We interviewed five of the seven candidates and found strengths and weaknesses in each of them.
In many ways, Haney, who only recently moved from California to live in Eagle permanently, represents the new Eagle, which has grown with so many transplants from California that it has the unofficial nickname “Little Orange County.” We also like that she has city council experience from her eight years on the council in Yorba Linda. But we’d like to see her with a little more time in Eagle before becoming a major decision maker.
Neither Gillis nor Pittman responded to emails or phone calls inviting them for an interview with the board. The editorial board generally does not endorse candidates who won’t agree to an interview.
Pittman, who was on council from 2018 to 2021 and has a long history in Eagle and strong community involvement, might make a good council member, but we were not able to ask him questions about his positions on Avimor, the proposed regional sports park, the shooting park, housing densities, the comp plan or some of the decisions he made when he was a council member.
And the fact that neither he nor Gillis responded to our invitation for an interview doesn’t bode well for how responsive they would be as council members.
Given these choices, Merrill and Letz are the best picks for Eagle City Council.
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, 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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