Kent Goldthorpe announces candidacy for ACHD Commission

July 30--Meridian Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kent Goldthorpe has announced he will challenge incumbent Ada County Highway District Commissioner Mitch Jaurena for the ACHD district 4 seat.

Goldthorpe, a resident of Ada County for 39 years, is a retired sales, insurance and financial services executive. He was appointed to the Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission in 2012. He has been active in Republican politics for a number of years and has been GOP chairman of Legislative District 21 and is currently GOP chairman of Legislative District 22, according to a press release.

Goldthorpe issued the following statement:

"Over the past few years and in particular the last several months it has been clear to me that the citizens, businesses and cities of Ada County could be better served by ACHD. In what I have seen the problems appear to include a lack of transparency, a lack of accountability and a lack of a service mentality. Government agencies are there to serve the people and to do so in as efficient a manner as possible. It appears to me this is currently lacking and that there is a particular disconnect between ACHD and the cities and communities of Ada County. When elected to the ACHD Commission, I will do my best to ensure the highest standards of transparency, accountability and service is offered to the people of Ada County.

"People who know me understand I believe in less government, but where there is government it must be effective, responsive and fair. I know most of my neighbors believe this as well. I consider transportation infrastructure to be an essential role of government and therefore ACHD must work closely with local residents and businesses at all times. I am pro-business and pro-development and ACHD should be as well. ACHD should not be a roadblock to businesses in this county. ACHD should also work closely with all of the cities of Ada County; it is clear there have been many missteps with the City of Boise and City of Eagle and this should not be the case. ACHD and the cities should be partners and their relationships good or otherwise it is the citizens and businesses who suffer. The recent flap over the bike lanes in Boise and a roundabout in Eagle were perfect examples where instead of partnership we saw conflict. When I am elected I will work to ensure matters like this become a thing of the past. The people of Ada County deserve better."

Goldthorpe and his wife, Rina, have been married 39 years and have seven kids and 17 grandchildren. Goldthorpe said in his press release he is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting and fishing; he has also spent decades as a Boy Scout leader in Meridian, where his three sons joined their father in becoming Eagle Scouts.

Two ACHD Commission seats -- districts 3 and 4 -- will appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

Other candidates vying for the district 4 seat include former chief planner for Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Rick Just and Stephen Warren.

Eagle resident Bob Bruce and Boise resident Paul Woods have announced their candidacy for the northwest Ada County district 3 seat held by John Franden, who is retiring.

The ACHD Commission has five members who serve four-year terms. Commission seats are nonpartisan and do not appear on the primary ballot in May.

The commission sets policy for the district -- the only countywide highway agency in Idaho. It serves all residents of Ada County and its six incorporated cities. The compensation for the part-time post is a monthly stipend of $1,771. The president of the commission, chosen annually from among the commissioners, receives an additional $356 per month.

Voters cast ballots for the commission seat representing the area where they live. In each race the candidate getting the most votes will be the winner; a majority is not required.

The last day to file to run for an ACHD seat and appear on the Nov. 4 ballot is Aug. 6. Write-in candidates have until Sept. 19 to file.

To qualify to run for the ACHD Commission, a candidate must: Be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old; be a resident of the ACHD district for which he/she seeks office; fill out a declaration of candidacy form and pay the $10 filing fee at the Ada County Clerk's Office, 400 Benjamin Lane, Suite 100, in Boise.

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