2001 Boise mayoral election

2001 Boise mayoral election

←  1997 November 6, 2001 2003  →

Candidate Brent Coles Rod Beck Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 17,739 9,052 Percentage 53.07% 27.08%

Mayor before election Brent Coles Nonpartisan Elected mayor Brent Coles Nonpartisan

The 2001 Boise mayoral election was held on November 6, 2001, to elect the mayor of Boise, Idaho. Incumbent Mayor Brent Coles ran for re-election to a third term. He was challenged by six opponents, including former State Senator Rod Beck.

On May 23, 2001, city voters approved a $10 million levy to purchase and preserve land in the Boise foothills, which Coles championed, by a wide margin. ^[1] Beck was one of the leading opponents of the levy, ^[2] and focused his mayoral campaign around a fiscally conservative, pro-business agenda. ^[3]

Coles ultimately won re-election by a wide margin, receiving 53 percent of the vote to Coles's 27 percent. ^[4]

However, Coles did not end up serving out his full term as Mayor. On February 15, 2003, after he was charged with two misdemeanors for accepting free travel from Blue Cross of Idaho to the 2002 Winter Olympics, he resigned from office. ^[5]

General election

Candidates

• Brent Coles, incumbent Mayor ^[6]
• Rod Beck, former State Senator, anti-preservation levy activist ^[3]
• Jeremy Maxand, activist, executive director of the Idaho Media Project ^[7]
• Jane C. Reiser, attorney ^[8]
• Ron Dillon, bicycle race promoter, event coordinator ^[9]
• Harley D. Brown, perennial candidate ^[7]
• Gene Summa, forklift operator, 2000 Republican candidate for Congress ^[10]

Results

2001 Boise mayoral election ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Brent Coles (inc.)	17,739	53.07%
	Nonpartisan	Rod Beck	9,052	27.08%
	Nonpartisan	Jeremy Maxand	2,545	7.61%
	Nonpartisan	Jane C. Reiser	1,503	4.50%
	Nonpartisan	Rod Dillon	1,122	3.36%
	Nonpartisan	Harley D. Brown	964	2.88%
	Nonpartisan	Gene Summa	502	1.50%
Total votes			33,427	100.00%

References

1. Hoffman, Wayne (May 24, 2007). "Levy vote could give Coles a boost for re-election". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. Main 7. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Foothills debate: Residents split on conservation proposal". Times-News . Twin Falls, Idaho. May 20, 2001. p. B-6. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. Quintana, Craig (September 9, 2001). "Rod Beck to join race for mayor". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. 1 Local. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. Hoffman, Wayne (November 7, 2001). "Coles surprised by easy victory". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. 1 Local. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. Hem, Brad (February 15, 2003). "Coles resigns". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. 1 Local. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. Hoffman, Gene (September 25, 2001). "Coles says he's ready to run". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. Local 1. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. Hoffman, Gene (August 2, 2001). "Boise candidates eye local offices". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. Local 1, 3. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
8. Hoffman, Gene (August 18, 2001). "Mayoral race gets more crowded". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. Local 1. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
9. Hoffman, Wayne (September 14, 2001). "Sixth candidate enters Boise mayoral contest". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. 2 Local. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. Hoffman, Wayne (August 17, 2001). "Forklift operator to take on Coles". The Idaho Statesman . Boise, Idaho. p. 1 Local. Retrieved August 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
11. "2001 Boise City Election Results". Boise City Clerk. 2001. Archived from the original on November 27, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2025.