POCATELLO — After reviewing 17 applications and interviewing six finalists, Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad has nominated local resident Dakota Bates to fill the vacancy on the City Council.
The opening was created when Josh Mansfield resigned from the council in April to attend law school at Brigham Young University. Blad narrowed the field from 17 initial applicants to six before selecting Bates for the nomination last week.
The Pocatello City Council will vote on whether to approve the nomination of Bates during its 6 p.m. Thursday meeting at City Hall. If approved, Bates will take his oath of office and officially join the council at Thursday’s meeting.
He will serve the remainder of Mansfield’s term, which ends Jan. 8, 2026.
Bates said restoring local people’s faith in government drove his decision to apply for the vacant City Council position.
“The biggest factor for me was my time working with the school district and trying to advocate for Washington Elementary,” Bates said. “As I talked with community members and canvassed neighborhoods, I kept hearing from different people that they didn’t trust government at all levels — especially the school district, city and county — to do the right thing or follow through. I don’t necessarily agree with that sentiment, but when you hear it repeatedly, I felt a desire to do something about it and help bridge some of the divides in our community.”
Bates said he plans to use his experience with the Washington Elementary Advocates, a citizens group that unsuccessfully tried to persuade School District 25 to keep the 100-year-old school open, to strengthen the relationship between city government and Pocatello residents.
In addition to his nonprofit work, Bates draws on three years of experience running Hannah’s Place, a local family and children’s therapy clinic.
“When you run and operate a business, it touches every aspect of life,” Bates said. “I’m grateful for the experience I have with the families we serve because it gives me a unique perspective on some of the most vulnerable people in our community. I’ll definitely be watching out for them.”
Bates said he would approach serving on the City Council with an open mind and is excited to learn how city government works and how city departments relate to each other. Though his nomination has not yet been approved, Bates said he has already spent time at City Hall during budget meetings to get up to speed on important issues the council addresses.
Most importantly, as a father of four and longtime Pocatello resident, Bates believes his perspective allows him to view city issues through the lens of an average citizen — something he says the council needs.
“I feel like I work well with others,” Bates said. “I can collaborate and disagree with respect. A lot of my professional experience deals with managing time and people, so I feel like I can look at issues before the city in a mature way and balance competing interests while trying to strike compromises.”
Mayor Blad expressed thanks to everyone who applied for the vacant council position.
“I’m incredibly proud of our community and inspired by how many people are eager to serve and contribute to Pocatello’s future,” Blad said. “Narrowing down the list for interviews was no easy task, as each applicant brought thoughtful ideas and strong passion for our city.”
The other finalists considered for the vacant council position were Kathleen Johnson, Keven Lewis, Rainbow Maldonado, Juliana Schirmer and Marty Vizcarra.