One thing I’ve noticed over the years of door-knocking all over Idaho is how little we know about our local leaders. I say “we” because I’m as guilty as the next person. When I first got involved in Idaho politics almost seven years ago I knew Butch Otter was our governor and some guy named “Bieter” was the mayor of Boise. That was about it.
Having spoken with literally thousands of Idahoans over the years, I get the sense I’m not alone. Most people know who their mayor is, but ask about the City Council or County Commission and many people don’t have a clue. Again, I’m just as guilty. Before running for Boise City Council I could name the mayor and maybe three members of the six-person Council. I still am a little hazy on who my Ada County Commissioners are.
This has always been strange to me. Many people can name multiple federal and state representatives who don’t even represent them, but ask them to name their local leaders and their eyes glaze over. My own ignorance is inexcusable because the biggest impact the government has had on my life since I moved to Idaho in 2006 (aside from taxes – but that’s everyone) was a move made by local officials. It sounds dumb, but when the Ada County Highway District put “stop” signs in my neighborhood a few years back, it changed my daily life for the better. Prior to that project, my entire neighborhood was filled with uncontrolled intersections. It made driving and walking around a nightmare – especially if there were multiple vehicles approaching the same intersection at once. Since then, however, I feel so much safer maneuvering around the neighborhood, and I know my neighbors feel the same way.
That was the local government.
Our collective lack of attention to city and county government has been evident during my run for office. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me, “So, what does the City government actually do?” The answer is, “a lot.” First off, the local government makes decisions on how to spend a variety of local, state and even federal tax dollars – most importantly your property taxes. Local government pays for police and fire protection, parks, libraries and other local amenities. It makes decisions about land use (development projects) and infrastructure (roads, crosswalks, “stop” signs). Local government makes decisions on everything from short-term rentals, to homeless issues, to tenant rights, to whether to lower the speed limit in your neighborhood. The combined budgets for City and County government run nine-figures in multiple jurisdictions around the state, and yet how many of us have actually looked at those budgets?
As we near Election Day, I propose each and every Idahoan who hasn’t done so already complete the following checklist before Election Day 2024:
1. Be nice to candidates who come knocking on your door. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. The best way to understand the role of City/County government is to actually talk with someone who is running to represent you. If you don’t want to, simply say you’re not interested and let them go on their way. No need to cause a scene on your front porch.
2. Attend a City Council/County Commission meeting. Do it in person if you can, otherwise most places stream the meetings online. These meetings can be pretty boring, but at least you’ll get a sense of how they work and what issues are being talked about.
3. Read the city budget. Not the whole thing (they can be hundreds of pages long), but at least read the summaries at the beginning and then scroll down to the actual numbers. They’re not that hard to understand and you might find out something about how your tax dollars are spent that may surprise you (good or bad).
4. Call or email a local elected official about an issue important to you. If you don’t want them at your front door, you can still interact with local officials, even at a distance.
Our country has gotten so caught up in national issues we’re missing the forest for the trees politically. Don’t ignore what may literally be in your own backyard. Local politics may not be the most sexy, but they’re almost always the most impactful.
I see the difference in my neighborhood every day.