POCATELLO — Two candidates vying to become Pocatello’s next mayor will square off in a special runoff election Dec. 2.

Greg Cates and Mark Dahlquist garnered the most votes in a crowded race for the Gate City’s next leader, though neither candidate secured at least 50 percent of the vote, triggering a head-to-head battle next month.

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad, who secured his fourth term as mayor in 2021 after defeating opponent David Worley in a runoff election, finished a distant third among eight mayoral candidates when all the votes were tallied Tuesday night. He earned just 1,830 votes, or 14.33 percent, compared with Dahlquist’s 5,135 votes, or 40.21 percent and Cates’ 3,938 votes, or 30.83 percent.

Even if Blad had captured every vote that didn’t go to Cates or Dahlquist, it wouldn’t have been enough to keep him in the race.

Cates, in a statement provided to the Idaho State Journal via email Wednesday, and Dahlquist, during a Wednesday phone interview, expressed gratitude to voters while outlining their plans for the final stretch of their campaigns.

“This election made one thing clear: Pocatello is ready for new leadership and they want things to change,” Cates said. “I want to thank the thousands of people in our community who cast a vote of confidence for me to lead this city.”

Cates said he also wanted to congratulate Dahlquist for earning a place in the runoff election.

“Campaigns are about ideas, effort and commitment to our community and I respect anyone willing to step up and serve,” Cates said.

Despite having more support than Blad and Cates combined when early votes came in first, Dahlquist said he was somewhat wary, with his confidence growing alongside his increasing level of support.

“When the early voting came in I was cautiously optimistic at that point,” Dahlquist said. “But then the other results started rolling in, it was like, ‘Yes, this is looking super positive.’”

Dahlquist, the executive director of NeighborWorks Pocatello for 18 years, said he wanted to thank voters for their confidence and trust.

“We won a good battle last night, but the race is not finished and we need to have all hands on deck,” Dahlquist said. “If this happens, I’m gonna give it all. I’m gonna roll up my sleeves and make our community go to the next level.”

Cates, a retired Pocatello police officer who served from 2007 to 2023, said he was confident that those who supported other candidates in Tuesday’s election will see that he’s the best choice to move Pocatello forward with practical, common-sense leadership.

Cates served the citizens of Pocatello for 16 years, handling more than 30,000 calls for service, his website says. He was a patrolman, field training officer, crisis intervention team member, bike patrol officer and community resource officer before retiring in December 2023 after suffering a job-related injury.

He currently works as a certified financial counselor at a local credit union.

“My focus as mayor is clear,” Cates said. “I will eliminate wasteful spending to lower your tax burden and put more money where it belongs, in your pocket. I will support small businesses, attract new employers and bring jobs to our city that pay a livable wage.”

Cates said that now that the field is set, he’ll regroup and get right back to work.

“Over the next 30 days, I’ll continue meeting with residents, business owners and community leaders to share my vision for a stronger, more vibrant Pocatello,” Cates said.

According to his website, Cates will mandate every city department head to prepare a sustainable budget that is aligned with a mission to reduce wasteful spending.

His website states he will bring accountability and integrity back to City Hall so that every decision is made with transparency and the public’s best interest at heart.

Cates’ website also says he will focus on cleaning up the city, revitalizing Historic Downtown Pocatello and bringing back family-friendly activities and events.

“I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got,” Cates said. “Together, we can move Pocatello forward.”

Cates’ website outlines a bold vision for historic downtown Pocatello, including permanently closing two to three blocks of Main Street to vehicle traffic to create a pedestrian-focused destination. This means eliminating all vehicle traffic in that area, with traffic thoughtfully redirected around the plaza. He envisions a beautifully redesigned street where families stroll safely, with curbside cafes, local businesses, fountains, trees, park benches and vibrant landscaping. Cates also supports relocating Pocatello’s City Hall to downtown, a move that could bring thousands of people daily, including city employees, residents, contractors and visitors.

Dahlquist said he expected a runoff with seven candidates vying for the position, and he’s pleased with his position in the top two.

“Going into this my goal was to get in the top two and with seven candidates vying for this, I think anyone was fooling themselves if they thought there would be over 50 percent on round one,” Dahlquist said. “The margin was higher than I thought. So it’s not over yet, but I’m very excited.”

Dahlquist’s website states that earlier in his career, he rose from a 23-year-old underwriter to build and lead a 50-person customer service department at Farmers Insurance, earning the company’s Management Excellence Award. He is an Idaho State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in management and later completed NeighborWorks’ Achieving Excellence program in partnership with Harvard Kennedy School in 2022.

Dahlquist’s platform centers on housing affordability, economic development and fiscal transparency. His website states he has helped families buy and fix up homes while leading neighborhood revitalization projects like the Bonneville Commons project and the two Park Meadows Senior Apartment complexes. His website notes that since 1993, NeighborWorks developments have added $42 million to the Bannock County tax base.

Dahlquist said he believes his grassroots campaign has resonated with voters, noting his team personally spoke to 1,000 people in four days ahead of Tuesday’s election through phone calls and door-to-door visits.

“I think they feel like I’m genuine,” Dahlquist said. “I’ve shared the story that I’ve really had many decades of community service and going to the mayor’s level, that there’s really no higher form of service out there to your community than being mayor.”

Dahlquist said his plan over the next month is to stay the course and continue getting out and talking to folks. He added that his consultant Conner Coutts of 208 Strategies helps with administration while he focuses on talking to people face to face.

“The enthusiasm has even gone up a notch, with people saying, ‘I’m available for volunteering or supporting in whatever way,’” Dahlquist said. “The feedback I’ve had from people and the willingness to help has been great.”

Dahlquist’s website says he will continue to modernize zoning, cut permit times, streamline inspections and publish a predictable checklist for builders and rehabbers. He plans to launch a “Clean & Green” corridor program that includes lighting, trees, sidewalks, gateways, storefront facades and neighborhood pride grants. He says he will implement transparency measures including a weekly “Mayor’s Minute,” as well as open-data dashboards for the budget, permits and projects.

Dahlquist said if he’s elected mayor, he’ll be a unifying presence and a collaborator.

“Pocatello’s next mayor needs to know how to manage many employees, not just work one-on-one with the public,” Dahlquist said. “We have to repair trust with citizens. We have to improve transparencies, we have to handle budget challenges. There’s huge responsibilities there, and we can’t risk failing. People see that in me. They see me as a collaborator, that I can do that and get us unified and walking in the same direction.”

Dahlquist gave credit to Blad’s long tenure at the helm of the Gate City.

“With mayor Blad, he served the city for 16 years, 16 long years, and that is a tall task,” he said. “I’ve always appreciated his energy, his enthusiasm, and his love for Pocatello. Serving the city is a tough task. It’s a big job. He did it with lots of enthusiasm and passion, so kudos and thank you.”

When asked to comment on Blad’s service to the city, Cates declined to comment. Cates encouraged all local voters to get out to the polls and cast their ballots next month.

“I just want to make sure that everyone is aware there is a runoff election,” he said. “We have to make sure people get out and vote on Dec. 2.

The runoff election will cost approximately $60,000, with Bannock County initially fronting the bill before seeking reimbursement from the city of Pocatello, according to Bannock County Elections Director Julie Hancock.

The runoff election preparations are basically the same as a regular election, just with a shorter time to get ready.

“I have to do in two weeks what I would normally do in two months,” Hancock said, adding that she’s already begun building the ballot and determining how many to order, noting that quantities are always a little iffy because turnout is always uncertain.

“I don’t know if this next one will be higher or lower,” Hancock said about expected turnout. “In 2021 there were 500 more people who turned out for the runoff than did the normal election, and there were only about 11,000. This year we had nearly 13,000, so we beat that record.”