Here are the candidates for Pocatello City Council Seat 3
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Editor’s Note: This article is the third of three stories on candidates running for Pocatello City Council in November 2023. Read the first article here. Read the second article here.
POCATELLO — A recent city council appointee faces a challenger in the upcoming election.
Gary Ekizian is running against incumbent Corey Mangum for the Pocatello City Council Seat 3. The election is on November 7.
EastIdahoNews.com made the same eight questions available to each candidate. Each response was required to be 250 words or less.
Mangum and Ekizian’s unedited responses can be read below.
Tell us about yourself — include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work and any prior experience in public office.
Mangum: My wife Alica and I have seven children, 5 girls and 2 boys. I am the Branch Manager of WaFd Bank in Pocatello Idaho, I’ve been in banking for over twelve years. I have a bachelor degree (Government with an Emphasis in Legal Studies). I serve on several boards and committees throughout the city of Pocatello such as NeighborWorks Pocatello, Region VI Behavioral Health Board, Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships and Uncommon Youth International, inc. I currently serve on the Pocatello City Council.
Ekizian: I am happily married to my wife Patricia, retired from careers in law enforcement and real estate and have lived in Texas, Idaho Florida, Washington State, and California due to work or school. I have a BA in Management and Organizational Development from Fresno Pacific University and have attended Fresno State University, Fresno Pacific University, University of Texas Arlington, and most of the colleges in the Dallas County Community College District. I have been a small business owner, as well as an employee managing/supervising as few as two people and as many as eight hundred with annual budgets of $20,000 to $10,000,000. I was a delegate seated on the credentials committee at the Texas State Republican Party Convention in 1984 nominating Ronald Reagan for his second term in office. Even though my career in law enforcement kept me from being involved in politics, I believe I have only missed voting one time since I was 18 years old.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Mangum: There are many accomplishments that give me a sense of pride. The birth of each of my children, marrying my wife, earning my bachelors degree, being awarded Idaho Business Reviews 40 under 40 award (2023) and Pocatello City Council appointment (2022).
Ekizian: Helping to prove criminals guilty of crimes they committed, and helping to prove the innocence of people accused of crimes they did not commit.
Why are you seeking political office within your community? Briefly explain your political platform.
Mangum: I’m seeking office because I feel it is the responsibility of us who live with our communities to be active participants in its function. I want our community to be one that is safe, productive and thriving for all who live here and visit. As I’m raising a family in the Pocatello community, I feel obligated to do my part to ensure its betterment. I want our children to be proud to call Pocatello home.
Ekizian: My personal experiences lead me to believe there needs to be more transparency and more accountability in government. Less government, and less taxes are the goal while still ensuring the safety and security of the citizens of the community.
What are the greatest challenges facing people in your community? What is your plan to meet those challenges?
Mangum: One of our greatest challenges is economic Development. Working in a collaborative effort with community agencies, city officials and businesses to make Pocatello a draw for the correct industries and business will create a steady, yet manageable growth that will lend to our community's success.
Ekizian: Crime, high residential property taxes and spending, coupled with lack of accountability must all be addressed immediately. Public input and involvement, and regular audits by outside agencies would be a good place to start.
How will you best represent the views of your constituents – even those with differing political views? How will you communicate directly with constituents?
Mangum: As a current council member, I support public comment and have made myself available to listen to the needs, questions and concerns of constituents. When necessary I have been able to direct them to the proper contact or department or community agency to address those concerns.
Ekizian: Communicating with constituents regularly is a good way to represent constituents. I can never lose sight that I am here to serve, not dictate. We all know or should be
honest enough to admit, we will never be able to make everyone happy, because we all have different views and opinions based on our own life experiences. Open communication is the best way to prevent tension and misunderstandings. Meeting personally with constituents, having open council meeting, having news media present at every council meeting for accountability and publishing agendas 30 days in advance to allow public input are some essential ways to communicate.
What areas in your community need immediate improvement? What actions will you take to address those needs?
Mangum: The North Gate area needs much attention. However, the correct attention. We need housing and businesses in that area, but we must be strategic in its development. The correct developments will lend to steady growth and the ability to maintain/create infrastructure changes as needed. Also, increased access to public spaces like parks and other amenities. This is why I supported the development of the pickleball courts and the skateparks. Those options need to be low cost/free so all members of our community can enjoy them. Housing prices and availability is a reason I support streamlining building permit processes and making development easier in our community.
Ekizian: By “areas” are you referring to physical locations, such as parks? Not everyone can be everywhere so a citizen committee should be formed to field concerns over areas
needing attention? The “areas” needing attention should be referred to the appropriate departments to be addressed, such as parks/recreation, streets, trash, landscaping abatement or whatever the issue is.
What parts of the city budget could use more funding? Where are places in the budget that cuts could be made?
Mangum: Overall our budget could use more funding in general. I believe the key is to find ways to diversify city investments and widen our tax base to create more revenue and savings for taxpayers.
Ekizian: I don’t think any parts of the city budget need more funding, they need better management of the existing funds. Not a single department head is going to want their budget cut. That is just human nature. Essential city services such as Police, Fire, and Ambulance/EMT providing for the safety and security of citizens should be the last thing to be cut. If an agreement can’t be reached in compromise then the council should look at an across the board cut in funding to all city services. Maybe a program to reward departments with additional budget funding based on how much they saved the taxpayers would be in
order? Again, public money should not be spent to support private businesses. A good example is the City of Pocatello subsidizing an airline.
What is the role of local media in your community? How can city officials work to have a better relationship with the media?
Mangum: Local media plays the role of informant in our local community. As city official I tried to make myself as accessible and and possible. Misinformation is easily disseminated but with the collaborative efforts of city officials and local media community members can be more well informed about the city workings.
Ekizian: The role of local media in the community is to report the news/facts. It is not the role of media to speculate, editorialize, or express opinions. Like Joe Friday used to say on Dragnet, “Just the facts!” City officials can implement a media liaison from each media outlet. Those individuals should receive regularly scheduled updates and be required to make PSA’s at least weekly to keep the public informed. This would establish better relationships with both the media and the citizens of Pocatello.