Written by Patty Bowen, Campaigns Manager. To receive this monthly update directly in your inbox, visit cvidaho.org/sign-up/
Election season is ramping up, and so is CVI’s work to ensure conservation champions are filling those municipal leadership positions.
Final early endorsements
This month, CVI is announcing another round of early endorsements. CVI endorsed Boise Mayor Lauren McLean in June, and Boise City Council President Jimmy Hallyburton and Meridian City Council Member Elizabeth Strader in July.
Last week, CVI’s board voted to endorse Boise City Council Members Colin Nash and Meredith Stead.
Boise City Council Member Colin Nash: Since being appointed to Boise City Council in April, Colin Nash has fought to improve multi-modal transportation, increase tree canopy and protect Boise’s open spaces. He also was instrumental in passing Boise’s Modern Zoning Code. During his time in the Idaho Legislature, Nash helped pass the largest investment in Idaho’s public lands, S1196, and helped fund efforts that support farmers and help conserve water across the state.
Boise City Council Member Meredith Stead: Meredith Stead was appointed to Boise City Council on Aug. 10 to fill a vacancy left by former Council President Holli Woodings. Before that, Stead served on the Boise Planning and Zoning Commission since 2018. During that time, she worked to protect Boise’s open spaces, create walkable neighborhoods, and provide Boiseans with a variety of housing options. Stead also supported the passage of Boise’s Modern Zoning Code.
Learn more about our endorsement of these two conservation champions by reading our press release.
These candidates — along with incumbents Mayor Lauren McLean, Boise City Councilor Jimmy Hallyburton, and Meridian City Councilor Liz Strader — received our early endorsement for their campaigns in races we consider priorities for advancing conservation values in Idaho. Our regular endorsement application is currently open until the candidate filing deadline on September 8th. If you know a municipal candidate in your area that demonstrates commitment to our lands, air, water, and access to the ballot box, send them our endorsement application.
Our team will announce the full, statewide slate of endorsements in mid-September.
National Poll Worker Recruitment Day
In 2020, in response to a national shortage of poll workers, Power the Polls kicked off National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on August 23 to recruit new potential poll workers who are committed to ensuring safe, fair, and free elections for all voters. The operations of Election Day depend not on experts or professionals, but everyday citizens like your neighbors, community leaders, family members, friends, maybe even you!
Idaho has over 900 voting precincts, each requiring several poll workers to keep our elections running smoothly. Volunteering as a poll worker is a fantastic way to give back to your community and participate in our democracy on the ground floor by helping the people in your area make their voices heard in each election. If this sounds like an opportunity you’d like to participate in, learn how to serve as a poll worker for Idaho’s upcoming municipal election here.
VOS of the Month
CVI’s voter outreach team is at the core of our work to engage Idahoans on issues that matter. Andrew Kowalewski joined CVI last summer and has been a passionate advocate for our efforts since the first door he knocked. Andrew has proven time and time again that he knows the issues and has a knack for meeting people where they’re at and engaging on the subjects that matter most to them. He had this to say about his time knocking doors:
“Engaging with the community at the grassroots level has been a pleasure. I get to hear firsthand what Idaho citizens think of their government and what they envision their city will and should look like. Seeing the results of our work has given me a unique perspective. As a VOS member, you know you’re directly involved not only in garnering support but in spreading awareness of an issue, bringing some of the most pivotal points to the attention of Idaho citizens with conservation values as backdrop for the conversation. Engaging at this level, I truly feel I’m a part of a democracy.”
Are you interested in playing an active role in electing pro-conservation candidates into office? Join our Voter Outreach Team! With Election Day just a little over 2 months away, we are expanding our team to reach record numbers of Idaho voters on behalf of candidates we’ve endorsed for their commitment to protecting the natural environment. Learn more about this opportunity here.