Idaho Falls Councilwoman Ehardt explains why she’s running for mayor

IDAHO FALLS — Idaho Falls City Councilwoman Barbara Ehardt has announced she’s running for mayor. She’s the first person to declare candidacy for the position.

The first-term councilwoman sat down with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton to explain why she’s decided to seek the mayor’s seat and what she plans to do if elected in November.

Here is a transcript of their interview.

NATE EATON, EASTIDAHONEWS.COM: You’ve been serving on the City Council for three and a half years, and you would have been up for re-election. Why did you decide to run for mayor?

BARBARA EHARDT, MAYORAL CANDIDATE: That’s a good question. First, let me to say to everyone watching this that I have been so honored. There’s probably nothing more humbling then to have your common, everyday person have the opportunity to serve their fellow citizens in the position of an elected office. I have been humbled and honored to serve these last three and a half years.

As things have gone on, as you become engaged in the process and you see how things are running, you hear frustrations. There are concerns and you know that you could do things different and better and I feel that I offer a completely opposite and different solution. That is why I’m running.

I have a completely different leadership style, a different approach with people and, when all is said and done, I was born here. I was born and raised in Idaho Falls. I grew up in the heart of Idaho Falls on the numbered streets. This is my hometown. I made a conscious decision to return after having coached Division One women’s basketball after 15 years. I loved the areas and universities where I coached, but I love Idaho Falls and I love Idaho and I wanted to come back. I want to make a difference right here in my hometown.

EATON: Tell us a little bit about what you do and why you decided to run for City Council originally.

EHARDT: You might say from the time I was young I’ve always been involved in politics. I’ve heard Damond and Dane Watkins talk about how for years they went around going door-to-door knocking for their dad and I thought, “I did it for your dad too.”

From an early age, I’ve been involved and fascinated with politics. I was the Young Republicans president at school in northern Idaho, and when I came back here, it just seemed like I really wanted to have an opportunity to make a bigger change. Running for a political office made the most sense.

Running as a City Council person is what I did. I did it three times. The first two I fell short, but I was so close that it’s what made me decide to go for a third time. The second time, as some people recall, my father got sick and I didn’t campaign the last three and a half weeks. He passed away the Friday before the election, and we had the funeral the Monday before the Tuesday.

That’s why I decided to run one more time. I absolutely have thoroughly enjoyed the last three and a half years. I feel like I’ve learned a lot and have contributed a ton, but I feel there’s a lot more I can do.

EATON: What would be your main focus if you are elected in November?

EHARDT: Leadership will be a primary key right now. Leadership and leadership styles. When you have somebody run for an office, and you’re running against an incumbent, the only reason you’re really going to run is if there are differences. If both candidates are the same, why not just stay with what you know?

There are definitely differences between the mayor (Rebecca Casper) and I. The citizens of Idaho Falls are going to have an opportunity to make a decision. They’ll have a choice, and that’s a good thing. My leadership style is definitely one that’s inclusive.

I want to involve people and I want to go through the process of hearing and listening. I want the council to be more involved. That is a key important factor to me. I don’t believe that’s been done very effectively at all.

I feel that information comes to us late, and when information comes, often times it feels like we are already being led in a predetermined outcome. That’s not what I want to see. The council should hear the important policy-making factors from the beginning so when it comes to the end, we understand what’s going on. Then we’re better equipped to make a decision that will be best suited for Idaho Falls.

We have to remember there are seven elected officials in Idaho Falls, and all seven should be used.

The other thing I see is I want to make sure the office of the mayor and the position of the City Council are co-equal branches of government. If anything, the City Council sets the policy, and the mayor’s administration should be carrying that out. Certainly the mayor can come with their ideas and solutions, but the City Council sets the policy, and I don’t feel that it’s being taking care of right now.

EATON: What’s the main thing you’ve learned serving on City Council?

EHARDT: The more you listen, the more you learn. And if you think that you have all the answers, that would be a fallacy. That’s not to say anyone on our City Council thinks that, but I think that we’d all agree that it takes time.

It is not an easy job and probably an underappreciated job for the amount of time we put in. It’s funny. When you’re out and about in the community, they’ll ask how much you make, and they’ll think that’s plenty. They’re thinking maybe we put five or 10 hours in a week, and they’re quite surprised when they find out consistently how many hours to put into this position.

I’ve also learned you have to do your homework. If you do your homework, you’re going to be fine. When you meet with various department heads and other people, even people who are opposite the political spectrum of myself, they have been very complimentary. The one thing you can count on is Barbara will do her homework, and she will come prepared. If I don’t, it’s a disservice to those who have elected me.