BOISE, Idaho – A record 121 Idaho mayors including those in Moscow, Lewiston and Post Falls have started the Mayor’s Walking Challenge.
It’s an annual event organized by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health to promote physical activity and community well-being across the state.
“We are thankful and fortunate that most Idaho’s mayors understand the importance of physical activity and are willing to step forward for their communities,” Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health Program Officer Lisa Bearg said. “We have a lot of familiar faces walking again this year, as well as first-time walkers from cities that hadn’t previously participated.”
The challenge sets daily step goals of 5,000 or 10,000 steps throughout October. Participants use a smartphone app or activity tracker to log their steps.
Mayors earn grant funding for their communities by meeting these goals, with $500 awarded for 165,000 steps and $1,000 for 310,000 steps in October.
Bearg emphasized the event’s fun aspect. “We want this challenge to be a fun way for mayors and communities to be physically active,” Bearg said.
In the past 12 years, the Mayor’s Walking Challenge has returned more than $699,000 to Idaho communities.
NORTHERN IDAHO (38 MAYORS)
CITY/MAYOR CITY/MAYOR Bonners Ferry: Rick Alonzo Lewiston: Dan Johnson Bovill: Will Stokes Moscow: Art Bettge Clark Fork: Russell Schenck Moyie Springs: Geoff Hollenbeck Cottonwood: Keith Holcomb Nezperce: Tyler Nelson Dalton Gardens: Curt Jernigan Oldtown: Lonnie Orr Deary: Jason Johnson Onaway: Sharon Shaffer Dover: George Eskridge Orofino: Mark Swayne East Hope: Pam Brockus Osburn: Kip McGillivray Ferdinand: Ralph Wassmuth Pierce: Greg Gerot Fernan Lake Village: Ray Watkins Pinehurst: Skip Robinett Genesee: John Hermann Plummer: Chris Dohrman Hayden: Ed DePriest Ponderay: Steve Geiger Hayden Lake: Lee Zink Post Falls: Ron Jacobson Hope: William Breen Potlatch: David Brown Juliaetta: Nick Anderson Sandpoint: Jeremy Grimm Kellogg: Rod Plank Smelterville: Jessica Frank Kendrick: Rose Norris Stites: Josh Bradley Kooskia: Christina Ulmer Wallace: Lynn Mogensen Lapwai: Antonio Smith Winchester: Miriam Youngren
SOUTHWEST IDAHO (21 MAYORS)
CITY/MAYOR CITY/MAYOR Boise: Lauren McLean Idaho City: Kenny Everhart Caldwell: Jarom Wagoner McCall: Robert Giles Cambridge: Mark Loveland Meridian: Robert Simison Cascade: Judith Nissula Mountain Home: Rich Sykes Council: Bruce Gardner Nampa: Debbie Kling Crouch: Trevor Schiefelbein New Meadows: Julie Good Fairfield: Terry Lee New Plymouth: Ron Martinez Fruitland: Kari Peterson Parma: Angie Lee Garden City: John Evans Star: Trevor Chadwick Glenns Ferry: William Galloska Weiser: Randy Hibberd Homedale: Gheen Christoffersen
EASTERN IDAHO (39 MAYORS)
CITY/MAYOR CITY/MAYOR American Falls: Gilbert Hofmeister Menan: Nathan Bronson Ammon: Sean Coletti Montpelier: Ted Slivinski Arimo: Lonnie Gunter Mud Lake: Alexander Avolio Ashton: Teresa Hansen Newdale: Chad Stevens Bancroft: LuCus Spencer Pocatello: Brian Blad Basalt: Rex Mitchell Preston: Dan Keller Chubbuck: Kevin England Rexburg: Jerry Merrill Clifton: Duke Mumford Rigby: Richard Datwyler Dayton: Jennifer Sage Ririe: Howard Kimmel Downey: Rex Nielsen Roberts: B.J. Berlin Driggs: August Christensen Rockland: Gretchen Munk Drummond: Shawn Holwegner Shelley: Stacy Pascoe Firth: Brandon Jolley St. Anthony: Donald Powell Franklin: John Packer Swan Valley: Cameron Manwaring Georgetown: Steve Waechtler Teton: Vanessa Josephson Grace: Jackie Barthlome Tetonia: Brent Schindler Idaho Falls: Rebecca Casper Ucon: Johnalee McDonald Iona: Evan Mann Victor: Will Frohlich Malad City: Joan Hawkins Weston: Greg Garner McCammon: Karlene Hall
MAGIC VALLEY & CENTRAL IDAHO (23 MAYORS)
CITY/MAYOR CITY/MAYOR Albion: Isaac Loveland Ketchum: Neil Bradshaw Arco: Grady Parsons Leadore: Dale Peterson Bellevue: Christina Giordani Mackay: Richard S. Mangum Buhl: Pamela McClain Murtaugh: Dee Hunsaker Carey: Alyssa Cenarrusa Paul: Brent Stimpson Dietrich: Aaron Nicholes Richfield: Tom Naylor Dubois: Noe Perez Rupert: Tammy Jones Eden: Blaine Campbell Salmon: Todd Nelson Hagerman: Jared Hillier Shoshone: Dan Pierson Hazelton: Nicole Rogers Stanley: Steve Botti Hollister: Robyn Grover Wendell: Rebecca Vipperman Jerome: David Davis
