1997 Boise mayoral election

1997 Boise mayoral election

← 1993 November 4, 1997 2001  →

Candidate Brent Coles Matthew Shapiro Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 14,879 6,475 Percentage 69.68% 30.32%

Mayor before election Brent Coles Nonpartisan Elected mayor Brent Coles Nonpartisan

The 1997 Boise mayoral election was held on November 4, 1997. Incumbent Mayor Brent Coles ran for re-election to a second term. No well-known candidates challenged Coles for re-election, ^[1] and his only opponent was activist and public policy researcher Matthew Shapiro. ^[2]

Coles ultimately won re-election in a landslide, receiving 70 percent of the vote to Shapiro's 30 percent. ^[3]

General election

Candidates

• Brent Coles, incumbent Mayor ^[1]
• Matthew Shapiro, neighborhood organizer, public policy researcher ^[2]

Results

1997 Boise mayoral election ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Brent Coles (inc.)	14,879	69.68%
	Nonpartisan	Matthew Shapiro	6,475	30.32%
Total votes			21,354	100.00%

References

1. Johncox, Martin (August 24, 1997). "Mayor still lacks challengers for election". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. 1B. Retrieved August 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Neighborhood organizer plans run for mayor of Boise". Times-News . Twin Falls, Idaho. September 19, 1997. p. E1. Retrieved August 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. Johncox, Martin S. (November 5, 1997). "Coles says re-election keeps projects alive". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. 16A. Retrieved August 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. "1997 Election Results". Boise City Clerk. 1997. Archived from the original on November 27, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2025.