BOISE — Boise City Council President Lauren McLean announced Monday she is entering the race for Boise Mayor, challenging the current 16-year incumbent, Mayor Dave Bieter. She filed her paperwork with the Boise City Clerk at 11:00 a.m. Monday, making her candidacy official.
McLean, who embarked on an informal, city-wide listening tour in advance of making the decision to run, heard what she called a deep sense of worry from Boise residents. “Too many folks are feeling priced out, talked over, left out or forgotten and that should worry us all,” McLean said. “They want their leaders to be transparent, set aside old grudges, and get serious about bold action to make every Boisean’s life better. That’s why I’m running.”
McLean explained that Boise has come a long way in the last 16 years, but residents are increasingly frustrated by the impacts of growth. “People -- of all ages and all backgrounds and from all neighborhoods -- are sharing concerns about affording a life here, finding a home, and being able to stay as Boise grows. The great things about Boise ought to be felt in every corner of this city, in every neighborhood, no matter how much you make or how long you’ve been here,” she stated.
McLean also heard frustration that Boise’s leaders need to be more accessible and transparent. “I talked with hundreds of people and heard their frustration at being left out of the big decisions and closed off from City Hall. That’s a problem, particularly at this moment when we need everyone to be involved in planning the future of our community. That’s the kind of Mayor I will be: transparent, accessible, and working with everyone in Boise.”
McLean has served on Boise City Council since 2011 and as Council President for the last two-and-a-half years. She is a mother of two, owns a philanthropy consulting business, and leads an organization that helps donors support civic engagement and advocacy programs that align with their values.
She led the successful 2001 Foothills Open Space Levy campaign to set aside open spaces for future generations. Most recently as a Council Member, she led the effort to pass Boise’s 100% Clean Energy Plan, citing its economic growth, increased affordability, and conservation impact for Boise’s future.
(photo courtesy: http://www.lauren-mclean.com)
