Live Video: Local News 8/Chamber of Commerce host Idaho Falls Mayoral Debate
Seth Ratliff
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — With Election Day less than a week away, Local News 8 and the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce are hosting a special mayoral debate tonight, October 29, at 6 p.m.
LIVE UPDATES6
6:58 PM: In closing remarks, Ashcraft highlights the history of the area and how the challenges of the past played a role in creating the City of Idaho Falls. “Right now growth is a challenge… but perhaps the better word is opportunity, I think it’s an opportunity for us to innovate and unify… I think that’s the opportunity we have today. And that’s the opportunity I want to work towards,” says Ashcraft.
6:56 PM: Burtenshaw emphasizes her experience in City Leadership. “I am ready to be the mayor on day one. I know the issues the city is facing…I recognize that growth is causing issues and frustrations. I am ready to be the mayor for all… I am an employee of the city of Idaho Falls. I work for you.”
6:53 PM: The candidates begin their closing statements. Alldridge goes first. “Idaho Falls is at a crossroads. We could continue down the road we’re on or we could introduce a change in leadership… moving back to what the citizens want. We want to maintain our character and improve growth the right way…” says Alldridge. He continues to emphasize how new leadership brings new opportunities to citizens and city workers.
6:45 PM: Alldridge responds, “The things we know we have to keep are public safety and the things that are owned by the city…My desire wouldn’t be to cut, but to figure out how we could be better stewards of those tax dollars.”
6:44 PM: Long asks Alldridge, “Can you explain how state holdbacks and recent state tax rate reductions might affect city revenues? What city projects would you cut or protect?”
6:42 PM: Burtenshaw’s response, she doesn’t know what her opponents would do, but she would encourage the City to work more with the Chamber of Commerce. “I do believe that the role of government is to get out of the way of businesses.”
6:42 PM: Baker asks Burtenshaw. “Do you agree with that definition of a business-friendly environment, or does it mean something different to you? And specifically, how would your approach to working with the Chamber and local businesses differ from your opponent’s?”
6:40 PM: Ashcraft emphasizes using the Idaho Falls Redevelopment Agency to make a property more desirable. “I think we need to encourage the developers and help them know that it’s our vision.”
6:34 PM: Long asks Ashcraft How would you encourage developers to look at infill lots which create liabilities for the city while not providing social or economic return?
6:10 PM: Ashcraft goes on to explain his time at BYU-I and working for the city of Ammon, and how that experience can apply to the City. In response, Burtenshaw highlights her time at BYU and her engineering degree, as well as her work on the Idaho Falls City Council. Alldridge comments on how his time as an entrepreneur will help the City.
6:08 PM: Doug Long asks the candidates to outline their education and how that would apply to the “job interview” of running the City of Idaho Falls. Ashcraft is the first to answer.
6:06 PM: Ashcraft begins his opening statement — “I’m not sure it’s hard to pinpoint that cities became something that I came about. I know that on my mission, I convinced my companion to attend a city council meeting in France so I could see how they did things there.” Ashcraft goes on to highlight how he participated in student government at BYU-I. ” I think there is a lot of stuff that I learned from the journey that I’d like to bring to Idaho Falls, to use the knowledge that I’ve learned and gained.”
6:04 PM: Burtenshaw begins her opening statement — “I was raised here in Idaho Falls, graduated from Bonneville High School and went on to get a degree in mechanical engineering from BYU…I think like an engineer and I act like an engineer.” Burtenshaw goes on to explain that to run a City, a leader needs connections to the State. “It requires a lot of relationships in the legislature; I have the knowledge.”
6:02 PM: Alldridge begins his open statement — “Idaho Falls is a special place… we wanted to be part of this amazing community. As time’s gone on, we’ve seen things that have changed.” Alldridge emphasizes in his address how he’d like to bring his experience in the private sector into city management. “I think people think of the Mayor as more of a ceremonial thing. But a mayor has a lot of executive needs.”
6:00 PM: Local News 8 Anchor Doug Long starts off the debate, coming to you live from the campus of the College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls. Over the next hour, candidates will have the opportunity to answer questions from the moderators
Rules, each candidtate will give a 2 minute opening statement. Following that, moderators Long and Baker will ask each candidate a direct question. They’ll have 2 minutes to respond.
5:55 PM: The candidates have taken their podiums as Chamber CEO Paul Baker addresses the crowd.
5:30 PM: Lisa Burtenshaw, Jeff Alldrdige, and Christian Ashcraft have entered the room, milling with the small crowd that has already gathered as we prepare for the debate to begin.
ORIGINAL:
Candidates Lisa Burtenshaw, Jeff Alldrdige, and Christian Ashcraft are scheduled to attend. Local news 8’s Doug Long and Idaho Falls Chamber CEO, Paul Baker, will be moderating the event.
This event is designed as a true debate to highlight the differences in policy and platform among the candidates, moving beyond the public forum style of events in the past few weeks. Paul Baker emphasized the goal, saying, “We want to dive in and get past the surface and find out what’s going on underneath and what they’re thinking as to what the future of the city should be.”
Debate questions have been sourced from a poll of Chamber members.
“Given that we’re from the Chamber of Commerce, a lot of it is going to be around economic growth,” Baker noted. “What are we doing to make sure that we’re still appealing to other people who want to move in and set up shop here? As well as, [how will we] enhance and grow what we already have here to ensure that we continue to be healthy and strong?”
Tune in or join us in person tomorrow night at Building Three at the College of Eastern Idaho. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. There is limited seating available.