Basque-American mayor wins second term

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Boise. Photo: Igor Lansorena

Boise mayor Dave Bieter won the most votes in a local election on Tuesday easily beating Republican challenger Jim Tibbs.

His landslide win was widely expected. With 100 percent of the results counted, the Basque-American Democrat got a total of 63.6 percent to 35.7 percent for Tibbs.

Dave Bieter, known in the Basque Country for being Boise’s first Basque-American mayor, was seeking a second term after winning a closely contested race in 2003.

"Four years ago, I said it was the biggest honor of my life to be elected mayor of my hometown," Bieter told his supporters at Boise's Basque Center Tuesday night. "But it's even better to be re-elected mayor of my hometown."

Basques all over the city were happy with the results of the vote. “I am extremely happy with the results. I am confident Bieter will continue improving the city of Boise making it an even better place to live and raise a family,” Henar Chico, a Basque residing in Boise, told eitb24 journalist Igor Lansorena on the day after the election.