City Council Seeks to Appoint Nampa’s Next Mayor

In what has turned into a total tragedy for the City of Nampa and the entire Treasure Valley as a whole, Nampa has been left without their newly elected Mayor.

47-year-old Rick Hogaboam was elected as Mayor of Nampa in November of 2025 and officially sworn into office just months ago, in January.

A tragic incident during a local leadership meeting led to the unexpected death of Hogaboam--just two months into his 4-year term.

While the city mourns and processes the loss, and looming question of 'what happens next' is being answered now, as Nampa City Council has provided next steps, and insight into Idaho law.

Idaho Code states the following, which applies to Nampa's peculiar and unfortunate situation:

In case of a temporary vacancy in the office of mayor due to absence or disability, the president of the council shall exercise the office of mayor during such disability or temporary absence, and until the mayor shall return. When a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor by reason of death, resignation or permanent disability, the city council shall fill the vacancy from within or without the council as may be deemed in the best interests of the city, which appointee shall serve until the next general city election, at which election a mayor shall be elected for the full four (4) year term.

The timing of all of this is unique--as whoever the City of Nampa appoints to be its next Mayor, will serve, essentially, a full term.

Residents elected Hogaboam for that four-year term and not being able to have a say over the next 3 years and 9 months may be frustrating to some.

As the City of Nampa's City Council begins to work through possible candidates, it will be crucial that they align with the needs of the city's people, as much as possible.

You may remember this fellow, who was running for Mayor of Nampa against the late Rick Hogaboam. His campaign was all over TikTok: