UPDATE: Rebecca Casper re-elected mayor of Idaho Falls
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS — Incumbent Rebecca Casper will serve another four years as the mayor of Idaho Falls after being re-elected Tuesday in a runoff election.
Casper received 5,304 votes (61 percent) over City Councilwoman Barbara Ehardt, who received 3417 votes (39 percent).
“I am pleased this election season has officially come to a conclusion. It seemed to stretch on for too long,” Casper said in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com. “I am grateful for the outcome. I believe it does send a strong signal that the voters in Idaho Falls respond well to positive messaging. I look forward to getting to work with the new council. We are all going to have to roll up our sleeves to address some of our community’s pressing problems. Fortunately, we will be aided by the most capable city workforce — directors and staff — in eastern Idaho. I am confident there is no problem we cannot solve by working together.”
Ehardt also issued the following statement to EastIdahoNews.com.
“I’m certainly disappointed in the results tonight but I absolutely believe in the process,” Councilwoman Ehardt told EastIdahoNews.com. “I have tried to stay true to my messaging and the reasons why I felt it was important to run. I was impressed to see just how many people were motivated to turn out in a runoff election so as to allow their voices to be heard. I can respect their decision.”
On the general election Nov. 7, none of the five candidates running received the required 50 percent plus one vote (see those results here), so a runoff was held with Casper and Ehardt, the top two contenders.