I had fun interviewing our mayor candidates! I hope you all enjoy reading these interview summaries! They are in alphabetical order.
Brent Arave
Brent Arave has lived in the community since 1964 and says his decision to run for mayor comes from a sense of duty rather than desire. He believes the city is headed in the wrong direction and wants to review areas like the budget to ensure fiscal responsibility.
If elected, Arave’s goals include controlling city spending, keeping water in Jensen’s Grove, possibly creating a recreation district, building a pool at Jensen’s Grove, and developing a four- to six-year street improvement plan.
He describes the mayor as the person who must take responsibility when things go wrong and believes the role requires accountability and leadership. BA emphasizes that the mayor should ensure transparency by keeping the door open for citizen input.
He encourages residents to get involved—he would possibly create a city webpage for feedback—and believes that accountability should be established across all departments. His main focus would be working closely with the city council. He believes the mayor should be heavily involved with the budget and major decisions.
Mike Oborn
Mike Oborn is running for mayor because he sees inconsistencies in how city matters are handled and wants to ensure that the city truly works for its residents. He says he has seen many people complain without offering solutions and feels that leadership means stepping up to make improvements.
His top priorities are public safety, infrastructure, and parks and recreation. He wants to see the city complete and maintain an aquatic center or pool, ensure infrastructure keeps up with growth, and maintain Blackfoot’s small-town feel. He also wants to review the city’s comprehensive plan and support ongoing work at Jensen’s Grove.
Oborn views the mayor as the face of the city who represents residents no matter if times are good or bad. He believes the mayor should understand what matters most to voters.
He encourages citizens to stay informed and participate in city matters. Oborn says he would evaluate city departments to identify issues before making major changes and would work collaboratively with the city council and city administrator to ensure accountability and efficiency.
Melwood Matson
Melwood Matson says he is running because he sees a need to plan for the future rather than focus only on short-term issues. He emphasizes the importance of preparing for growth, which he believes will make today’s impact zone part of the city limits within 20 years.
He hopes to update the city’s comprehensive plan and create a strategic plan involving input from a wide range of community members—citizens, businesses, the city council, and local organizations. His priorities include water management, keeping Jensen’s Grove full, and encouraging civic engagement.
Matson describes the mayor as the administrative head and executive officer of city government, responsible for communicating with citizens and maintaining city services.
He urges residents to “stand up” and get involved in their government, even if it is in small ways. He supports forming both a growth committee and a strategic planning committee and improving staff training to ensure continuity within city departments. He also sees technology and AI as tools the city should learn to use responsibly, and he believes a strong mayor-council form of government works best when the mayor ensures proper oversight of the city administrator and others.
Scott Stufflebeam
Scott Stufflebeam says running for mayor was never on his bucket list, but he’s motivated by a desire to improve city ordinances and ensure they are clearly defined and practical. He has long been active in the community through organizations like Kiwanis and local sports and wants to make sure the city’s rules work for its residents.
If elected, he plans to review the city budget for savings, simplify ordinances, and improve transparency. He lists Jensen’s Grove, surface water, and a community pool (starting with an outdoor pool and expanding later) as key priorities.
Stufflebeam views the mayor as the city’s executive manager with significant authority and responsibility. He says citizens should feel welcome to share ideas directly with the mayor and work together to find solutions.
He believes more accountability and openness are needed in city government, suggesting ordinance summaries and published council action summaries to improve communication. Stufflebeam also wants to evaluate staffing levels and spending to ensure efficiency. He supports the city’s current strong mayor-council structure but believes it’s important to regularly assess how duties are delegated and whether changes could improve performance in the future.