Twin Falls City Council Candidates

It has been a while since I have attended a Twin Fall City Council meeting, and Monday’s meeting reminded me why it became so difficult to attend them months ago. The meeting’s main focus was to hear from the twenty-three candidates who applied to fill the open seat left by Councilman Shawn Barigar’s departure for more profitable pastures.  The candidates were each given three minutes to tell the council about themselves, and they were all asked the same three questions. According to Idaho state law, it is the duty and privilege of the sitting mayor (a position which is filled by a vote of the council itself) to appoint the individual who will fill said seat. Unfortunately for the citizens of Twin Falls, Ruth Peirce is the sitting mayor (more on that later). 

The three questions posed to the candidates were:

1. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls? (Asked by Councilman Craig Hawkins)
2. What is the biggest issue facing the city of Twin Falls? (Asked by Vice Mayor Chris Reid) Interestingly, all 19 candidates who spoke answered the same: growth.
3. Why are you seeking this position now (as opposed to running for office 9 months ago)? (Asked by Councilman Jason Brown)

You can find my reporting of each candidate below in paragraphs separated by their name. If you want an overall opinion of the candidates who were there to seek the office, I can definitely say that if this is the best that Twin Falls has to offer, we are indeed in deep trouble. None of the candidates could manage to speak about tax relief, individual liberties, smaller government, or less federal money. However, they all (without exception) spoke to the city government needing to provide more services, spend more money, and get more involved in citizens’ lives. 

Several candidates were no-shows: Brian Bell, Eddie “Steve” Marin, James Craigg, Michael Shaffer, Diane Feagins, & Cassandra Hieovas all chose not to appear before the council.

Alexandra Caval

Alexandra moved to Twin Falls as a refugee at the age of five, and attended Idaho primary and post-secondary education. She is a lawyer who represents Idaho to the 9th circuit court, and sits on several boards of government and Non Government Agency (NGO) committees. She sits on the Twin Falls Urban Renewal Commission (we all know how efficiently and equitably they spend our tax dollars!). She spoke to Twin Falls’s need to have affordable housing (not surprising given she sits on the Urban Renewal Commission). 

1. Why are you seeking this office now?

During the last election she said she was appointed as counsel on a legal case that took all her time, so she couldn’t run. Ms. Caval made no mention of stepping down from her current position as a lawyer, and didn’t mention how that might affect her term if she were appointed councilwoman.

2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin fall?
   Ms. Caval answered that Twin Falls needs to be conscious of our water usage (something I heard twenty years ago in Fresno, CA and yawned at, only to realize too late that with that yawn, I had signed away my rights to teh ground water coming out of my well) She mentioned that we are in the midst of a twenty-two year “mega drought” and specifically mentioned we need to grow with limits on our water usage, saying, “[We] need to find a way to manage our water use.” 
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   This question was asked of and after the second candidate began speaking, so Ms. Caval didn’t get a chance to answer

Patrick Patterson

As one of only two candidates who ran in the last election for city council, Patrick Patterson had the advantage of being able to answer the question “why now?” by pointing to his last candidacy. Mr. Patterson pointed out that even if he is not selected for this seat, he will most likely run again in the next election cycle. He pointed to his past experience running for council, as well as his experience teaching social studies at Twin Falls High School as proof of his readiness to serve on the council. Mr. Patterson also shared that he is pursuing a master’s degree in order to become a principal in the public school system. As a final remark, he mentioned that he has experience “controlling a room” and that he could employ that skillset, “in case people don’t follow the rules.”

God help us.

I should point out that Mr. Patterson did participate in the candidate forum hosted by Pastor Paul Thompson and Bill Collie of KLIX during his last candidacy for City Council.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   He views this as a second chance to win a seat on the council. 
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?
   His answer was that in education the biggest issue was finding enough people who are qualified to fill teaching positions.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   He said he would find more engaging ways for the youth of Twin Falls to spend their time, and cautioned parents in the room and who were watching to check their childrens’ phones to see what applications they were using to make money and share information. 
   

Linda Brugger

Mrs. Brugger spoke a lot about her past service in Denver, CO working on the city’s mayoral race. She moved to Twin Falls in 2004 and, seeing that the Republican party ran the state almost completely, decided to register as a Democrat to “balance things out.” She repeated the idea that local elections are about government services, the availability of government services, and how the government can do more for the citizens. She mentioned that since she retired, she now has time to serve on city council, and stated that her main goal was to be available to listen to citizens’ complaints and suggestions. She followed this up by sharing that she wants citizens to feel heard, understood & valued. As a final remark, she stated that the city government was much like a non-profit board (a sentiment that we here at MVLA sadly must agree with and want to see changed.)

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   Mrs. Brugger answered, “Because there’s a vacancy!” She also mentioned that her kids and grandkids are moving away and she doesn’t want to follow them. Then she related a story: she was in a business the other day and heard people saying that “they” (I assume the business owners meant the local government) don’t listen to “us” and that maybe the people should make them listen! (What a novel idea: the government being accountable to and, dare I say it? Afraid of its citizens!)
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?
   Her answer was growth, along with all other applicants, and she emphasized that Twin Falls must preserve its historic background but also give citizens opportunity to be “part of the world.” (Globalism?)
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   

Aaron Wert

Mr. Wert grew up here and has a farming background, as well as a Bachelor’s of Science degree in civil engineering. He owned an engineering firm in the past here in Twin Falls, and his firm helped develop Washington street as well as other city projects. He served on the city  Transportation Board for twenty (20)  years, and served in city traffic safety committee. Suffice it to say, he is comfortable in government.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   Mr. Wert said that it was because the opportunity was there. He said he’d considered it before but that now was the right time for him.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?
   He answered that Twin Falls has to provide services for 100,000 people with only 53,000 citizens paying into the tax base. He did not mention how he would address that problem, only that it was a problem to be solved.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?

He said his main focus is the future infrastructure of the city, specifically pointing to truck routes, congestion, and traffic flow, and said that because of his background in civil engineering he would be a good fit for the position.

Gerardo Munoz

Mr. Munoz, who was obviously very familiar with teh mayor and segvearl council members, was born in Colombia and emigrated to the United States in 1989. He attended Texas A&M and moved here in 1995 to pursue a job at CSI for his wife. He currently works at a bank as the Senior Vice President of IT and IT Director, and has for twenty-five years. Mr. Munoz said he considers himself an “Idahoan born outside of Twin.” He mentioned several government committees that he has served on, and specifically lauded his time on the Twin Falls Impact Fee committee (no mention of whether he was on teh committee when they raised our impact fees by 100%.) As a final note, Mr. Munoz mentioned that he can interact with anybody who is willing to debate without insulting the other person. Good luck finding such an opponent in civil service, Mr. Munoz!

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   He said that he has more time now than he did before, and mentioned that his job encourages participation in interests outside of work.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?
   He said that growth is a huge issue, and mentioned that when he moved here in 1995 the population of Twin Falls was 23,000, and has since ballooned to 53,000. He went on to specifically outline accessibility to affordable housing and offering government transportation as his primary concerns.
   God help us.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?

Joshua Callen

Mr. Callen was born & raised in Jerome, moved to Boise to attend Boise State for his degree in accounting & finance. He then moved to Twin Falls to work in an accounting department, and four years ago bought a business from a local retiree. He leaned on his experience speaking with customers and clients each day and navigating the issues facing private business owners as the things that qualify him for the position. Mr. Callen mentioned that he wanted to specifically represent three groups of citizens in Twin Falls: families, small business owners, and people in his age group (roughly late thirties to early forties, a.k.a. “millennials”). He specifically mentioned that he does not want local laws to be passed that are too onerous on small business owners.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   Mr. Callen mentioned that more of his time was freed up because his two youngest children are now in school, and that his business is more established than it was.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?
   One of the only candidates to mention a different issue as primary other than growth, Mr. Callen said that apathy with the process of local politics & local government were the largest issue facing us, as well as growth. He said he thought that the contentiousness so obvious in national politics is seeping into local politics (from his mouth to God’s ears!)
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   Mr. Callen said that he would like to get the citizens of Twin Falls more involved with the police force.

Christopher Cardinet

Mr. Cardinet was one of the younger candidates, and his main interests were festivals and events put on by the city government. The only problem he seemed to have with these taxpayer funded services was that more money wasn’t spent on advertising them. He works in mental health, and mentioned that he spends a lot of time driving around the city and sees a lot of room for improvement. He brought up the fact that he is a “futurist” as one of his main strengths, and mentioned that the future fascinates him. He envisions a tram system owned & operated (and funded) by the city of Twin Falls.

God help us.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   His answer was that he was planning to run in the next election, and that he had been going to the public library recently to check out books on local government and he was interested in it. 
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?
   He answered that infrastructure and public transit were the biggest problems regarding growth that Twin Falls needed to solve. He wanted more mixed use housing zoning (a.k.a. More apartments, high density, and rental properties) and spoke to his desire for TWin Falls to have a public transportation system.  
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?

When asked about improving the city, Mr. Cardinet spoke to the underserved and 

downtrodden among us who need access to transportation, provided by the city 

government. That, he said, would be the best way to improve quality of kife in Twin Falls.

Christine Aguilar Hernandez

By far and away the most memorable of all the candidates, Ms. Hernandez explained she is a long-time resident of Twin Falls (55 years) and that all of her kids and grandkids were born and raised here. She has several degrees in education and is a certified public school principal who is currently working as a behavioral specialist. She pulled no punches with the council, saying that she looked around the room and saw very little diversity. She said she thought it was time that people who are like her, who may be afraid of coming before the council because of the lack of diversity, had a voice. She said those voices need to be heard because (in her words), “they just do.”  All six sitting council members stoically took their licks and looked down at their fingers or over the heads of the audience.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   Ms. Hernandez responded that she had tried to get on the ballot for the last two elections but that every time she gathered the signatures necessary to get on the ballot, she was told by the elections officials that she didn’t have enough legitimate votes. One thing we share in common: our elections process needs an overhaul! 
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?
   She answered that crime was the biggest problem, mentioning that because of the explosive growth we’ve had, crime has gone up, and needs to be addressed.   
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?

Her response was that Twin Falls needs to make life better for all of its citizens, 

presumably nodding once again to the underserved and mistreated in our community. 

After saying that universal free lunch in public schools is sorely missed and that that 

needs to be reinstated as well, she concluded her interview. As a homeschool parent, I 

would love it if someone provided my children with “free” lunch, already prepared and 

served to them for me, too!

Craig Kelley

Mr. Kelley moved back to Twin Falls in 1999 to join his family’s business. In 2019 a Denver company bought the company he worked for because they wanted to invest in Twin Falls. He has served on many boards and commissions in the bean growing industry. He also currently serves on the Twin Falls planning & zoning commission, and says he has learned a lot from being on that commission.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   Mr. Kelley was the second of two candidates who did in fact run in the last race for the open city council seats. Mr. Kelley also attended the candidate forum in October of last year hosted by Pastor Paul Thompson and KLIX. 
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   Mr. Kelley pointed out that growth and public transportation are the biggest issues facing our city. He mentioned that these problems are easy to complain about but difficult to solve.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   Mr. Kelley (who as mentioned sits on the Twin Falls planning & zoning commission) commented that the commission was working on this very thing right now. He also mentioned that affordable housing is an important issue facing us.
   

Greyson Stone

Mr. Stone was obviously very cozy with the sitting council. He was the only candidate who chose to phone in rather than to appear in person. He said he was in Alaska. He cited his many terms sitting on non-profit organization boards and chairmanships as his qualifiers for sitting on city council. Interestingly, he also holds the Vice Chairmanship of the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce. If you’ll recall, the seat that he is hoping to fill was vacated by the current Chairman of the Chamber. What symmetry! He said he has appeared on many “power” lists of real estate agents (no surprise there!) and he made sure to flatter the sitting council by saying it was past “visionaries” on the council that made Twin Falls what it is today. If being beholden to the real estate lobby, being too familiar with the current council, and having a conflict of interest from day one isn’t enough to make you hope Mr. Stone doesn’t fill this seat, he also mentioned that he was at a public policy meeting with Lori Likely and really likes her and learned a lot from her. If that’s not enough to make you hope for a pass on a candidate, I don’t know what is!

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   He mentioned that he had hoped to run during the last election but that his wife was not 100% behind his candidacy,and that family is everything to him. 
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   Unsurprisingly, Mr. Stone pointed to growing government services as something we need to do. He also mentioned that we need to figure out the third Snake River crossing, and that we would only get one shot at it. 
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   Once again Mr. Stone resorted to flattery, heaping praise on the past progress made by the sitting council members, and said that we just need to keep the “momentum going.” 

Reylene Abbott

Ms. Abbott told the story of how ten years ago she handed off the city youth council 

gavel (as its president) to the next class of young leaders, and that she was proud to be 

returning to the council chambers as a candidate for city council. She mentioned that her 

time on council gave her confidence to be a first generation college student in her family, 

and to come back to Twin and volunteer with the city youth council. She is also a 

member of the county fair board, and understands preserving the agricultural roots while 

embracing growth steadily. She also pointed out that she has always worked in the 

non-profit sector.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   Ms. Abbott said that she has dreamt of fulfilling the job since she first joined the Youth Council in the 9th grade. She also said that the timing is right for her because her  personal & professional life have given her exposure to “sub groups” in the Magic Valley that, according to her, gives her a perspective that is needed in Twin Falls.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   She answered growth, but drilled down to a more specific answer: Twin Falls needs to give more power in our government to non profits. That’s right, she said that non profit corporations need a “seat at the table,” and mentioned that they would really like to see more public transportation.
   God help us.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   She answered briefly that Twin Falls has a “good thing going” but that we need to invite more people to participate in that process. 
   

Neil Christianson

Mr Christianson was born and raised on a farm in eastern Idahowho moved here seventeen years ago for work. He has owned severaldifferent businesses in a plethora of industries, who has alos served on many government committes & boards. During his tenure on the Urban Renewal Commission, he helped purchase the building that our City Hall now occupies, and helped form the zoning districts that the owners of Cliff Bar & Chobani took advantage of to build their factories. 

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   He answered that he has run twice before and will again in the future, but that during the last election cycle his work responsibilities prevented him from running. 
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   He claimed that along with growth, the local labor market was the largest issue facing Twin Falls. He said that there aren’t enough skilled laborers, nor talented workers here in Twin Falls andthathe wanted to bring more in so that our families don’t all disband in search of better opportunities. 
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   He said that adding public transportation to our city’s list of taxable services would be an improvement, as well as adding the third Snake River crossing. He also mentioned that the progress made on the Main Avenue renovation of the past several years was laudable and that he hoped to see that continue. 

Robert Beauregard
“Bob,” as he referred to himself, was a big fan of public education, having spend twenty-seven years as an employee of the College of Souther Idaho (CSI). He has also spend over twenty years as a sports official, and sees a lot of benefit and honor in introducing young people to the rigor and boundaries introduced by sports. Similar to Linda Brugger, Mr. Beauregard wanted the citizens of Twin Falls to “feel heard.” 

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   Bob answered that he had retired four years ago and pursued other avenues of public service, but personal tragedy restricted him from following those interests. He said now is the first time he has been able to realistically fulfill the role of councilman.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   His answer was traffic flow, and he wanted to see if anything could be done to synchronize the traffic lights so that traffic flow is improved. 
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   Heanswered that the youth are the future, and as such, he wants the city to offer more free sports programs. Sports, he claimed, makes good future citizens.  

Terry Mcurdy

Terry came off like a consummate politician: affable, chummy, deliberate, opaque. He told the council that he will be retired this coming Thursday, that he has lived in Twin Falls for thirty-two years, and that he loves Twin Falls. He has spent the past seventeen years in banking, and prior to that owned several different businesses in many industries, as well as served on several boards, in the Chamber of Commerce, and for the Boy Scouts of America. 

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   He answered that he is retiring soon and thus has the time to commit to the task now.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   Mr. Mcurdy laughingly answered that we face many issues as a city, and that the downturn in the economy is also effecting us. He wants to be able to help with budgets and allotments.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   He echoed the sentiment of several of the others candidates in saying that we need to “continue the momentum” that we already have. As Abraham Lincoln said, “knavery and flattery are blood relations.”
   

Patty Cameron

Ms. Cameron works as a program coordinator at the Salvation Army here in Twin Falls. Her recent commitment to attend city council meetings has inspired her to run for the open seat, and she lists passion, devotion, organization, and positivity as her most relevant traits. She wants to be a team player with the rest of the council.

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   She said that her last child just left for college which has opened up the opportunity to run for office.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   Ms. Cameron answered growth, jobs, and water as the primary issues we face. She mentioned that the city needs to “keep up” with the growth of the city.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   She felt that the quality of families in Twin Falls must improve. She mentioned that suicide is up in Twin Falls, and that the youth of the city need guidance so they can improve their lives.
   

Ben Woodbury
Mr. Woodbury has lived in Twin Falls since 2014 when he moved here from Canyon County for work. He said that when he left Canyon, they were in the same position in terms of growth that Twin Falls is in today. He mentioned that we can learn from Ada county’s growth and the way they have handled their city’s expansion. Twin Falls could be the next Boise!

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   He mentioned that his last child is leaving for college in the next few weeks, so he will have the time to apply himself to public service.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   He mentioned that since growth is so explosive, the melting pot aspect of Twin Falls needs to be preserved. He said that he’s been working as a substitute teacher for the past three years and that he has seen students from other countries who are in need of government help. He also mentioned he wanted to attract qualified professionals to our area.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   He said that Twin Falls should foster a community of “giving and sharing” and the council’s job is to foster a sense of community. No specifics as to how a government entity can do that.
   

Charles Lewis
Mr. Lewis was born in Wyoming, raised in California, and retired here in Idaho. Most of his adult life he lived in California, and he retired from a job working for the State of California as a public accountant. He mentioned that all the other candidates were more qualified than he is, and he isn’t sure he can do the job. 

1. Why are you seeking this office now?
   He said he saw the posting in the newspaper and that it would give him something to do. He also joked that he read that the council voted themselves a pay increase and thought, “I have to get in on that!”
   Telling.
2. What’s the biggest issue facing Twin Falls?  
   Growth was the continued theme, and Mr. Lewis mentioned that he has heard that the city legally must invest in public transport once the population reaches a certain size. I have a feeling this has more to do with all the federal money our city council has been greedily taking than it does actual laws dictating growth.
3. How would you improve the quality of life in Twin Falls?
   He said that he hopes to see more retirees like himself able to feel safe in their homes as growth continues.
   
   

While I feel that this goes without saying, I’ll say it for the record: if this is the best Twin Falls has to offer for a seat on our city council, we are well and truly in a helpless state. The candidates interviewed on Monday night presented nothing but big government ideology, nanny state solutions to problems that citizens should be able to solve for themselves, and a lack of deep thinking on the largest issues we face as a city (namely growth and government spending).

As a final note, I have to mention that mayor Ruth Pierce specifically told the audience not to email or call her about her decision because she would not be taking input as to whom she chose to join the council. While that is technically legally true, it speaks to the larger problem in Twin Falls: our elected officials truly believe their constituents have nothing of value to offer them as they rule over us. If you are one of those Idahoans who always talks down to Californians for how they govern, you need to take a hard look at how these folks are running (and ruining) your city.