By Office of Public Affairs
FORT HALL – The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes recognize the importance of surrounding communities recognizing and upholding a strong government-to-government relationship with the Tribes.
The November 4 municipal elections resulted in the defeat of current Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad. This leaves challengers Greg Cates and Mark Dahlquist vying for the seat in a runoff election to take place on December 2. The City of Pocatello sits on ceded Shoshone-Bannock homelands, and the Tribes encourage voters to thoughtfully consider which candidate demonstrates a clear understanding of Tribal sovereignty and the need for ongoing consultation on matters of mutual interest.
Cates, who received 31% of the municipal election vote, brings sixteen years of experience as a Pocatello City police officer. While on the Police Force, he served in a variety of positions including Patrolman, Field Training Officer, Crisis Intervention Team Member, Bike Patrol Officer, and Community Resource Officer. After medically retiring in 2023, Cates started a small business before transitioning to work as a certified financial counselor at Idaho Community Credit Union (ICCU).
On his campaign website, Cates states,
“As Mayor, I will make it my priority to eliminate wasteful spending and improve the efficiency of our city government. This will result in substantial property tax relief for every homeowner and renter in Pocatello.”
He also encourages transparency, supports public safety reforms, advocates for bringing jobs to the community, and encourages affordable housing initiatives. More information about his positions can be found at https://www.catesformayor.com.
After graduating from Idaho State University, Dahlquist, who received 40% of the vote, began his career in the insurance industry before eventually becoming Executive Director of NeighborWorks®, a non-profit organization supporting programs to bring affordable housing opportunities, loan assistance, homebuyer education, and many other resources to the community.
On his website, Dahlquist states,
“I’m ready to lead this city as mayor because I believe Pocatello deserves a leader who knows every corner of this community and believes in its future and potential.”
His vision includes his “Attainable Housing & Neighborhoods Plan” focused on facilitating permitting, enabling cleanup, achieving “quick-win fixes” including repairing sidewalks, lighting, crosswalks, and holding roundtables with builders, lenders, and neighborhood leaders to develop feasible solutions to address the city’s challenges. He also pledges to bring transparency, speed, and teamwork to City Hall. For more information about Dahlquist, visit https://www.markforpocatello.com.
Both candidates have acknowledged the importance of partnering with the Tribes. While the Fort Hall Business Council does not endorse either candidate, the Tribes encourage Tribal members who live in and are eligible to vote in Pocatello to visit each candidate’s platform and select a leader that recognizes Tribal Sovereignty and is committed to meaningful and ongoing collaboration.
For more information on voter eligibility, same-day voter registration, and polling locations, visit https://www.bannockcounty.gov/elections/.
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