Want to join the Boise City Council? With two vacancies, residents encouraged to apply

The Boise City Council is looking for two new members, but one of the openings might be filled by a familiar face.

One longtime council member announced that she would be taking a new job later this year, while another inadvertently vacated her seat by moving out of her district. That left the mayor to fill two seats, both of which will be up for grabs when city elections take place in November.

Elaine Clegg, who spent 19 years on the council and served as president until earlier this month, is set to become CEO of Valley Regional Transit, the agency that operates the region’s bus services.

Lisa Sánchez, who was elected to a second term on the council in 2021, for District 3, gave up her seat this month over a change of address — but she might not be gone for long.

“I encourage anyone with a passion for Boise, a strong record of civic engagement, and a willingness to serve to apply,” Mayor Lauren McLean said in a Wednesday news release.

“We knew we would be looking for a candidate to appoint to the at-large seat now held by Elaine Clegg. Unexpectedly, and unfortunately, we are now seeking candidates for both the upcoming at-large vacancy and the current vacancy in District 3.”

In the past two years, the City Council has twice drawn new geographic districts, after a state law mandated that cities of a certain size shift from at-large representation to district-based elections. This year will be the first time that all council members will be elected by district.

The district that covers the North End and Northwest Boise, which until this month was represented by Sánchez, shifted slightly when the lines were redrawn last year. The district, which was also changed from District 3 to District 6 on the new map, now includes a few blocks of West Downtown south of State Street.

The address Sánchez moved to was south of State Street and outside of District 3, but within District 6.

To be eligible to fill the current District 3 seat, a person has to be a resident of that district for at least 30 days, Council President Holli Woodings previously told the Statesman.

In the news release, McLean said Sánchez could get her seat back for the remainder of the year after reestablishing residency.

“It is important to me that the process is fair, and that we make good by the voters of District 3 in this unexpected vacancy, so I’ll take very seriously the will of the voters who elected Lisa if she wishes to be considered for appointment,” McLean said.

Sánchez could also, in theory, be appointed to Clegg’s seat, because that person may live anywhere in the city.

Applications for both seats will open on Jan. 31 and close on Feb. 21, according to the release.

Sánchez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Friday, she tweeted, “Happy Friday the 13th, District 3!” A since-deleted tweet appeared to show a paper copy of a lease, for an address in District 3.