Nampa Mayor Bob Henry Tuesday accepted the resignation from Council member Kelly Gibbons, after she learned she is not a Nampa city resident.
Henry announced Gibbons will no longer be serving on the Nampa City Council, effective immediately.
“It was brought to my attention that Gibbons does not live in the city limits of Nampa, and therefore is not a qualified elector -- which means she is not eligible to serve on the City Council,” Henry said.
“It is with a heavy heart that I write to resign my position on the Nampa City Council,” Gibbons wrote in her resignation letter to the Mayor. “It has come to my attention, just today (Tuesday), that I am not qualified to hold this office because I live outside the Nampa city limits. I have spoken with the city attorney regarding applicable Idaho law, and I agree that the proper course of action is my immediate resignation.”
Gibbons went on to state: “Last fall, prior to declaring interest in the city council seat vacated by Pam White, I rented a home in the Blackhawk Subdivision near Ustick Road and Middleton Road. My home address is a Nampa address. Unbeknownst to me, homes in the Blackhawk Subdivision have Nampa residence addresses, but are technically located in the Caldwell city limits. My confusion was honest and sincere and I regret any difficulty or inconvenience this has caused.”
“I’m just sick about this,” Henry said, “I apologize to the citizens of Nampa. It certainly was not my intention to appoint someone who didn’t live in the city limits. I’ve appreciated Kelly’s dedication since her appointment in January.”
Henry said Gibbons’ appointment to the Nampa Urban Renewal Agency is also void -- and he’s asked Nampa City Attorney Mark Hilty to research the legal ramifications of City Council votes since January.
Instead of appointing a replacement for the seat originally vacated when Pam White was elected to the Canyon County Board of Commissioners, Henry said, he plans to leave the position open, letting voters in November decide who should step into Seat 3.
