BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
A mix of incumbents and newcomers were on the ballot for Tuesday’s primary election, with Canyon County voters selecting a prosecutor and two commissioners. Incumbents successfully took on newcomers in a landslide.
Also on the ballot — a Nampa bond, Caldwell School District levy and county-wide levy all failed to pass.
CANYON COUNTY PROSECUTOR
Former Adams County Prosecutor Chris Boyd will be filling a familiar seat, winning the Republican primary against former Idaho Rep. Greg Chaney for Canyon County Prosecutor. Boyd won with 66% of the votes.
No Democrats ran for county prosecutor in the primary, leaving Boyd as the victor.
"I'm grateful for the trust given to me by this wonderful county and am eager to work for our community again," Boyd told the Idaho Press via text message. "It was a very rough primary election and I hope we can heal and come together as a party."
During this campaign, Boyd was endorsed by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, among others.
Boyd first started his legal career as a prosecutor in the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where he worked for five years before beginning his role in Adams County. He was previously asked to be the special prosecutor for an investigation into the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's distribution of Community Partner Grant Program funds.
CANYON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1
Commissioner Leslie Van Beek has won reelection with 50% of the votes. Van Beek was opposed by fellow Republicans Pam Blacker Wagoner and Theresa Denham, who received 27% and 23% of the votes, respectively.
No Democratic candidates filed to run for the seat.
Van Beek is involved with an ongoing lawsuit against her, former county employee Paul Navarro and Canyon County.
Former Human Resources Director Susan Baumgart's complaint alleges defamation of her character and that her resignation agreement was violated.
Looking forward to her next term, Van Beek plans to focus on managing the county's growth.
"(We will) continue to work in partnership with our elected officials — that has to be maintained," Van Beek said. "That's the way to move any county forward, and it's only fair to the citizens and the residents of the county that we work cooperatively together."
CANYON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3
Commissioner Zach Brooks has won the Republican primary against Rich Williams with 59% of the votes. In the general election, Brooks will run against Democrat Kyle Thompson, who ran unopposed.
In a previous interview with the Idaho Press, Brooks highlighted the board's efforts to publish documents and audio associated with every board meeting.
NAMPA TRANSPORTATION BOND
Nampa’s General Obligation Transportation Bond did not achieve the two-thirds majority vote it needed to pass, receiving 57% of votes in support.
The $38 million from the bond would have gone toward several infrastructure projects including road improvements and the addition of sidewalks, with 13.2% of the bond intended to go toward pedestrian improvements.
CALDWELL SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY
The CSD’s supplemental levy did not achieve the simple majority it needed to pass with a 48% vote "in favor," falling short by less than 100 votes.
The levy would have been for $4.1 million per year for two years and would have renewed a previous levy that expires this year. Without the levy, the school board will be expected to cut $4.1 million from the district’s budget.
CANYON COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT LEVY
The $8 million levy did not reach the required two-thirds majority, failing with 41% of votes in favor.
Canyon County has grown by 20,000 residents in the past five years, increasing emergency medical service calls by 20%. The levy would have funded 12 new paramedic positions and the addition of two ambulances.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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