We contacted each local candidate from Midvale to New Meadows who is running in a competitive race. The following statements and pictures are from the candidates asking for your vote. We hope that these are informative and help you make a decision come Election Day, November 4.
We also encourage voters to checkout www.voteidaho.gov where you can check the status of your voter registration, view your sample ballot and so much more.
Adams County sample ballots are on page 16. Washington County sample ballots will be printed next week.
Thank you to the candidates for submitting their responses and enduring numerous emails and calls.
Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name within their race.
I would like to take this opportunity to greet the citizens of Council, friends old and new, and to share my background and my plans and hopes for this city.
As a Texan by birth, I completed my veterinary education at Texas A&M University in 1981. After eleven years of practice, I relocated with my family to Council in 1992 to establish Heartland Animal Hospital. For the last thirty-three years, I have cared for the pets and livestock of this area. I have also actively supported Council Schools, FFA, 4H, Chamber of Commerce activities, Council Seniors, the Council Library, and the Adams County Fair and Rodeo, both professionally and financially.
In 1998, I was appointed to the City Council to fulfill the term of a councilmember who had moved away and continued in that position through unopposed reelection in 2001. In 2002 the Council asked me to step forward to complete the term of the current mayor when he moved. Since then, I have had the honor to continue to serve and guide this city.
Over the past quarter century we have seen difficult times and forward strides. We weathered through the closing of the Boise Cascade mill and managed to adjust, diversify, and improve our local economy in response.
Working with ITD, we established the Highway 95 alternate route to remove the heavy commercial truck traffic from our downtown and school zone to create a safer, cleaner environment for our citizens. In the process, we renovated the downtown corridor with new pavement, sidewalks and lighting.
We generated new business and employment opportunities through the establishment of the Business Park.
We have seen improved recreational opportunities through the development of the Boise Cascade Community Park, the McDonald fishing pond, and the Weiser River Trail.
We overhauled our sewage collection and treatment system, including a state-of-the-art treatment plant of sufficient capacity to carry us well into the future.
We have developed our airport to enable increased recreational and commercial aviation, as well as a portal for medical evacuation and a base for wildland firefighting when needed.
There is still much work ahead, from revamping our water system to addressing the condition of our streets. I look forward to helping the City in its continued progress and would greatly appreciate the opportunity.
My name is Gabe Wilson, and I’m a write-in candidate for Mayor. A Council native born, raised, and a graduate of Council High School. I’m an active member of our community and am dedicated to seeing it flourish. I’m a volunteer firefighter with the Council Fire Department. A founding board member for the Council Loggers Jubilee, and a sitting board member for the Council Mountain Music Festival. My family has deep roots in public service, and I’m honored to continue their legacy. I am a proud veteran of our country’s service and, with the voters’ help, intend to continue serving my neighbors through public office. I carry a profound love for our community, area, and way of life. My vision for Council is to create a superior quality of life for residents, making the city a desirable place to live and visit.
If elected, my primary goal is to reevaluate ordinances that support respectable neighborhoods and public safety. When we take pride in our community, it shows.
Goals:
Serve as an in-touch leader and partner.
Assure a safe community for people.
Ensure quality infrastructure that is well-maintained and operated.
Create a superior quality of life for residents, making the city a desirable place to live and visit.
Youth engagement.
Establish a great place to locate, expand, and operate a business and provide for well-planned growth and development.
Provide a well-managed and financially strong city.
Mission Statement My mission, if elected mayor, is to enhance the quality of life for the Council’s citizens by providing a clear vision, strong leadership, and high-quality services. I am committed to moving Council forward by creating an environment that fosters well-planned growth and development, preserves and improves City assets, and emphasizes practical and efficient operations. Pride, mutual respect for individuals, high ethical standards, and teamwork are essential qualities that are strived for in the City.
Purpose Provide leadership and vision, determine city policy, act as the official head of the city, spur economic development, plan and administer city projects, deliver city services, negotiate city contracts, and produce and administer the city budget.
(Only residents of Zone 4 can vote in this race)
My name is Earl Henderson, and I am honored to announce my candidacy for re-election as School Board Trustee for Zone 4.
I was raised in Council, graduated from Council High School, and have proudly raised my family here. My children also graduated from Council High School, and like many of you, I care deeply about the strength of our schools and the future of our students. I am proud to call this community home and am committed to supporting its continued growth and success.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving our community in many ways — as a member of the Fair Board, Rodeo Board and currently on the 4-H Sale Committee and Technical Advisory (TAC) Committee. I’m also involved with the developing of a Community Coalition in Council because I believe in promoting the health and well-being of our youth.
There’s a quote by Mary Hall that reflects why I continue to serve: “To make the difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care.” That’s what guides me every day. I care deeply about the Council School District — its students, staff, and community. I believe that when we work together, we can continue to make Council schools a place where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
I would be honored to earn your vote in the upcoming election so I can continue working for our schools and our community.
My name is Chloe Lucas, and if you have lived here long or you have had children in the high school in the last ten years or so, you probably know me. I grew up in Council and graduated from CHS in 2011. After earning my teaching degree from the University of Idaho, I returned to Council and accepted the job of English teacher at my alma mater.
Despite its challenges, teaching is my dream job. I have been honored to have the opportunity to help mold our community’s youth into fine young adults. Then in 2024, my husband and I added twin boys to our growing family, so we made the decision for me to stay home with our four young children. For the foreseeable future, I will not be teaching, but that doesn’t mean that I want to walk away from education entirely. The challenges that are faced by public education are many and the unique dynamics of a small rural district can compound those hurdles. I would be remiss if I sat on the sidelines and watched the district struggle when I know that my experience and passion could be of use.
If I were to be elected as trustee, I would focus my attention on three things that I see as priorities for our schools. First, there is a disconnect between the school and the community. No forward progress can be made until that divide is healed. We need the school and community to walk hand-in-hand, and to do so, we must open lines of communication and work together to create a future for ourselves that we can all support. Secondly, we need to be offering an education that is competitive and sets our children up for success no matter what path they choose after graduation. We can’t afford to not examine our model of teaching and learning and update it to fit the needs of our society and our children. Finally, we need to invest in our staff. We want to attract and retain qualified staff members because that is the key to building strong programs and strong students.
These three issues are big, but they are also all connected. Progress in one area will lead to progress in the other areas. Over the last four years or so, our little district has been hit hard with staff turnover, low test scores, controversy, and poor attendance. That’s not what I want for my four kids. I want my children to grow to be contributing members of society with a good education, positive memories, and Lumberjack Pride. I want that for your children, too. It’s time for a breath of fresh air. It’s time for change. Help me build strong foundations for our children so they will have brighter futures.
