NAMPA, Idaho — Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling announced she will not seek reelection for a third term after serving the city since 2018.
"Everything is going good, and I love it — but I feel like it's time to step back and let somebody else step to the front," Kling said.
Kling has served as mayor for eight years and points to reductions in crime, thousands of new, well-paying jobs, and reducing poverty as some of her biggest accomplishments during her tenure.
WATCH: Mayor Kling discusses why she decided to step down
"When I ran for mayor, it was because I felt led to run and with a heart to serve," Kling said. "I still have that heart to serve my community, but I feel like it's time to lay it down and let somebody else come in and take the lead."
The mayor identified managing Nampa's rapid growth as her biggest challenge while in office.
"The growth. We've had so much growth. But growth is something that's really tricky to manage. And that's been a challenge because we've had considerable growth," Kling said.
While stepping away from the mayor's office, Kling indicated she plans to remain involved in public service in some capacity.
"I will continue to work. I will continue to be engaged. I'm just changing. I'll be changing roles. I don't know what the role is yet. We'll find out," Kling said.
Shortly following the mayor's announcement, County Clerk Rick Hogaboam announced his candidacy for mayor with support from Kling.
"I don't know who all is going to put their name in for that race, but Rick Hogaboam is somebody that is stepping in ... and while I don't typically endorse anyone, I am going to stand behind Rick," Mayor Kling said. "He is a former city council member with the city of Nampa. As my former chief of staff. I know Rick well. He's a good man. Integrity and character is important, and I think he'll serve the city well."
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
