IDAHO FALLS -- Mayor Rebecca Casper has named former School District 91 Trustee Lisa Burtenshaw as the replacement to fill previous City Councilwoman Shelly Smede’s vacant City Council position.
Smede announced her resignation at the March 11, 2021 City Council meeting, to become effective at the end of the month. Casper announced the next day that she would accept letters of intent from residents interested in filling the seat, with the intent of naming Smede’s replacement prior to the Idaho Falls City Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 8.
According to Idaho law, when a vacancy occurs on the City Council, that vacancy is filled by an appointment of the Mayor. That appointment is then ratified by the City Council.
The Mayor’s office received 10 letters of intent to fill the open spot prior to the interest period closing on March 26. After reviewing the letters and resumes from the interested residents, Casper announced her decision to appoint Burtenshaw.
“Lisa Burtenshaw brings a wealth of understanding not only of our community, but of budgeting, finance and public policy,” said Casper. “She is familiar with management and oversight of large organizations and has a very good understanding of how property taxation, bonding and other municipal funding mechanisms work, which will be essential for her to step into this role and hit the ground running.”
The other nine residents who expressed interest in the position were Miranda Marquit; Anthony LaPorta, Jr.; John Ohman; Jameson Rammell; Barbara Miller; Amanda Poitevin; Evan Thomas; Amanda Logan; and Sam Ellsworth.
“I was pleasantly surprised and frankly, quite humbled to see this remarkable level of interest from so many good, thoughtful residents willing to step up to fill Shelly’s seat. Each is an outstanding member of our community capable of making great contributions. I want to publicly thank them for being willing to serve, and to invite them to remain interested in city governance,” said Casper. “Lisa’s prior experience with public service, combined with her experience with finance makes her a perfect fit to step in right during budget season.”
With the beginning of budgeting meetings for the upcoming fiscal year, Burtenshaw will be asked to begin attending briefings and budgeting meetings with city staff and the Mayor this week. Burtenshaw formally will be recommended to fill the vacant seat to the City Council for approval on the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on April 8.
“Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work with Mayor Casper, members of the city council and many of the city department directors,” said Burtenshaw. “I look forward to serving more closely with them in this new capacity.”
Smede was in the last year of her four-year term as a member of council. If approved by the City Council, Burtenshaw will fill that position for the remainder of the term, with the seat being up for election this fall.