Blackfoot mayoral candidates (from left) Brent Arave, Scott Stufflebeam and Mike Oborn. Not pictured: Melwood C. Matson. | Courtesy photos EDITOR’S NOTE: EastIdahoNews.com will be publishing the responses to candidate questionnaires every day through the municipal election on Nov. 4. Read them all here. BLACKFOOT — Four candidates are vying to fill the seat of two-term Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll, who has chosen not to seek reelection. Those running for the position are Brent Arave, Scott Stufflebeam, Mike Oborn, and Melwood C. Matson. EastIdahoNews.com reached out to outgoing Mayor Carroll multiple times for comment on his decision not to run again, but did not receive a response. RELATED: Marc Carroll wins second term as Blackfoot mayor Each candidate was sent the same list of eight questions, with a word limit of 250 words per answer. Responses were only edited for minor punctuation, grammar, and length. Candidate Melwood C. Matson did not respond to the questionnaire. Learn more about candidates Arave, Stufflebeam, and Oborn in their responses below. Elections are on Tuesday, Nov. 4. QUESTIONS Tell us about yourself — include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work and any prior experience in public office. Arave: I am currently 66 years old. My family moved to Blackfoot in 1964. I served a 2-year church mission to the Philippines, resided in Rexburg for 2 years going to school, and I lived on the ranch in Leadore for 1 year; other than that, I have been a resident of Blackfoot.I am married and we have 7 children. 6 girls, 1 boy.I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. My family has primarily been in the construction business (I still own one), but I have also had cattle, I have a hydrogen business that puts hydrogen on automobiles, I also own a composting business that is geared around composting waste in landfills. I served on the Bingham County Youth Committee for many Years, I served on the board running the BMX Track for 4 years, I served on the Blackfoot Pride Days committee for about 7 years, I ran a church basketball program for 35 years, I volunteered and coached in youth football and basketball. I have never ran for any political party but I have been involved in politics in some form most of my life. Stufflebeam: I have been married to my wife for 49 years, and together we raised four children who all live nearby. We are blessed with 12 grandchildren, and like many families in Blackfoot, we value being close to one another and giving back to the community that raised us. My education includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance, a Law Degree, and doctoral work in Organizational Leadership. For more than 40 years, I have practiced law in real estate, business, contracts, and estate planning. I also served as President of First American Title, where I grew the company from a single office in Blackfoot to more than 30 offices across three states with 400 employees. Service has always been at the heart of my life. I was a founding member and president of the Blackfoot Jaycees, president of the Blackfoot Kiwanis Club, and later served as Utah-Idaho Governor. For 31 years, I coached youth soccer in Blackfoot, including 14 years as the Blackfoot Girls High School coach. I was among the first “C” licensed coaches in Southeast Idaho, served on the board of the Idaho Youth Soccer Association, and spent more than 20 years as a licensed referee. I have also served the public for over six years on the City Planning & Zoning Committee, now as Chairman. These experiences—family, professional, and volunteer—have shaped my belief that true leadership means listening, serving, and putting community first. Oborn: Essie and I are proud parents of 2 kids and 2 stepchildren. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, I held ASE Master Certification for 25 years and have owned a business during my career. Additionally, I have served as the volunteer President of the Westside Ditch Company for five years. Demonstrating my commitment to community leadership. For the past seven years, I have been employed as a Maintenance Worker and Assistant Supervisor for the local school district, contributing to the upkeep and functionality of our educational facilities. Born to an immigrant mother and a veteran father, I was raised in Pocatello, Idaho, where I attended high school. I spent 35 years in the Denver/Lakewood area, graduating from Alameda High School, before returning to Southeast Idaho over seven years ago. My deep-rooted connection to this region drives my dedication to preserving Blackfoot’s rich farming and ranching heritage. What is your proudest accomplishment? Arave:My proudest accomplishment would be my children but outside of that I can’t really pick a single one other than the way I have lived my life. I feel like I have always tried to look out for others and help whenever I could. Stufflebeam: My proudest accomplishment isn’t a title or a position—it’s raising a family, without losing my sanity along the way, and doing my best to pass on values of respect, responsibility, and teamwork. I learned early in my business career that the employees who understood teamwork were the best employees. That realization led me to the soccer field, where for 31 years I coached youth—my own children included. Coaching wasn’t about winning trophies. It was about teaching kids to work together, to recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and to make the whole team stronger. I remember coaching my youngest daughter’s AYSO team while also coaching at the high school. One was recreational, the other competitive, but both required the same mindset: commitment, hard work, and playing for something bigger than yourself. Even when the league pushed back, we still won every game because the players bought into teamwork. But when my players asked what the score was, I always answered with another question: “Did you play your best? Did you improve from last game?” If the answer was yes, then my reply was simple: “You are a winner.” Teaching my children—and hundreds of other young people—that winning means growth, effort, and teamwork is the accomplishment I’m most proud of. Because whether in family, business, or government, true success is never about one person. It’s about working together, lifting each other up, and achieving more as a team than we ever could alone. Oborn: My proudest accomplishment is raising two exceptional daughters. Guiding them into becoming compassionate, driven, and responsible adults has been a deeply fulfilling journey. Why are you seeking political office within your community? Briefly explain your political platform. Arave: I am seeking office because I feel like I have a duty to contribute to the community. My father served here as a county commissioner for many years and he taught us to help whenever we could. I love this town; I have no desire to ever leave. As a High School student I remember listening to many of the kids who felt like they wanted to get out of here, I never felt that way. I think this is a good place to live and raise your children. I have a few specific things that I would hope to change but until being in office and getting more details it is hard to know if we can accomplish them. I think we need to work on streets and I think we need to try and work on Jensen’s Grove. But we need to do this while keeping the budget under control. We need to figure a way to draw businesses back to town to help share the burden of finically running the town in order to keep taxes down for the citizens. My desire is not to grow Blackfoot to the size of Pocatello or Idaho Falls but to grow it at a reasonable pace while allowing us to get amenities to the city that will allow us to fulfill both desires and needs of the citizens. Stufflebeam: I never set out to become a politician—being mayor was never on my bucket list. But after serving more than six years on the Planning & Zoning Committee, I could no longer ignore what I was seeing. Too many ordinances, while written with good intentions, were far too invasive for a community of Blackfoot’s size. On top of that, our ordinances are scattered across multiple sections, difficult to find, and confusing to follow. We deserve fewer, clearer rules—ordinances that are easy to locate, simple to understand, and fairly enforced. I am running because Blackfoot needs a mayor who will put families first. For me, that means restoring Jensen’s Grove to its rightful place as the jewel of our city, ensuring reliable water pressure for every household, maintaining our parks, and building a community swimming pool where kids and grandkids can safely play. It also means being wise stewards of taxpayer dollars—reducing unnecessary costs, spending efficiently, and setting clear priorities so that every dollar goes where it matters most. My platform is rooted in service, not politics. I want to simplify ordinances, reduce red tape that frustrates both families and businesses, and focus our city’s energy on the essentials: safety, water, infrastructure, and the community spaces that make Blackfoot a place we’re proud to call home. With a career in law, business, and community service, I know how to listen, solve problems, and deliver results. I am running to ensure Blackfoot grows responsibly, governs wisely, spends efficiently, and always puts people first. Oborn: I am running for office with a singular focus: to serve and uplift our community. As a non-career politician, I bring a wealth of experience as a problem solver, grounded in practical Common-Sense solutions honed over a lifetime of addressing challenges. I firmly believe that with the right mindset and determination, no goal is unattainable. If elected, I am committed to fostering transparent and inclusive communication through an open-door policy, ensuring every resident’s voice is value and hear. My dedication is to the betterment of our community, driven by a collaborative and results oriented approach. What are the greatest challenges facing people in your community? What is your plan to meet and overcome those challenges? Arave: The greatest challenges that I see are the taxes and what it costs to draw individuals and businesses to the town. That means looking at every budget and seeing if we have waste and unnecessary expenses and fees. I think the Mayor should be engaged in every step of this. Stufflebeam: The greatest challenges I hear from families across Blackfoot are water, trains, infrastructure, and overregulation. These aren’t abstract issues—they touch our homes, our safety, and our children’s future. Water is at the top of the list. Families deserve reliable water pressure, fair bills, and clear communication from the city. Jensen’s Grove should once again be the crown jewel of our community, and our kids and grandkids deserve a safe community pool. These aren’t luxuries—they are basic investments in family life and community pride. Trains pose safety and health concerns that disrupt daily living. The simple solution is to move switching out of town, but that requires pressure and cooperation with our federal representatives. Infrastructure like sidewalks has been neglected for decades. Families shouldn’t have to walk with strollers or bikes in the street because sidewalks are crumbling or missing. With more efficient spending and by seeking outside resources, we can finally make progress. And finally, overregulation makes life harder than it should be. Ordinances should be simple, clear, and fair—so families and businesses know the rules without confusion or costly mistakes. These challenges aren’t solved by quick promises. They take persistence, thoughtful planning, and a commitment to putting families first. With my background in law, business, and community service, I will work every day to make sure Blackfoot’s government is responsive, responsible, and focused on what matters most to the people who call it home. Oborn: The rapid growth of Blackfoot challenges the cherished lifestyle that attracted me to this community and continues to resonate with many long-term residents. This unique way of life is rooted in our agriculture heritage which is the cornerstone of our city’s identity. How will you represent all constituents and communicate with them – even those with differing political views? How will you communicate directly with constituents? Arave: In order to represent my constituent’s views I would first have to hear their views, get educated about them, analyze them and then act accordingly. Therefore I would have an open door policy making myself available as much as possible. I would appreciate honest opinions and feedback; you cannot fix anything that you don’t know about. I know enough to know that I don’t know everything. Stufflebeam: Representing a community means listening to every voice—not just the ones that agree with you. Families in Blackfoot come from different backgrounds and experiences, but what unites us is a shared desire for safe neighborhoods, strong infrastructure, affordable housing, and a community our kids and grandkids can be proud of. My approach has always been rooted in respect, responsibility, and teamwork—the same values I taught my own children and hundreds of young people on the soccer field. Teamwork doesn’t mean everyone sees things the same way. It means listening carefully, weighing different perspectives, and working toward solutions that benefit the whole team—the whole community. I will represent all of Blackfoot by asking tough questions, making priorities clear, and ensuring decisions are practical and fair for families, businesses, and taxpayers alike. When it comes to communication, I believe in openness and accessibility. That means holding regular town halls, maintaining a clear and user-friendly city website where ordinances and updates are easy to find, and being visible in the community—at events, in neighborhoods, and face-to-face with citizens. Too often, people feel decisions are made behind closed doors. I will make sure our citizens are informed both before and after the vote, heard, and respected. My promise is simple: I will listen first, act responsibly, and always put the people of Blackfoot above politics. Oborn: To effectively represent all constituents, including those with differing perspectives, I will prioritize inclusive and transparent engagement. By fostering open dialogue and actively seeking diverse viewpoints, I will ensure fair representation and maintain strong, direct communication with all constituents. What parts of the city budget could use more funding? Where are places in the budget where cuts could be made? Arave: Today I do not know enough about the individual budgets to address the needs.Therefore I cannot say who needs more funding and what cuts could be made. I would get into that the very first thing upon taking office. Stufflebeam: When asked what parts of the city budget should receive more funding and where cuts should be made, my honest answer is this: without reviewing the actual budgets of each department, it would be imprudent to single out specific line items. What I can say, based on decades of experience leading businesses, managing personnel, and overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets, is that responsible fiscal management follows a clear process. First, gather all the facts. Second, determine the true priorities that best serve citizens. Third, identify areas where funding can be reduced or redirected without harming essential services. Finally, allocate additional resources where they will create measurable improvements for residents. This disciplined approach has served me throughout my career, from growing a single office into a multi-state company with hundreds of employees, to chairing the Planning & Zoning Board where every decision affects our community’s growth and quality of life. Any candidate who suggests cuts or increases without first doing this work is either guessing or playing politics. Relying solely on department heads is not enough – they may understand their operations, but they may not fully see how their decisions affect citizens day to day. My job includes finding and removing waste and inefficiency. Blackfoot families work hard for their money. As mayor, I’ll make sure the city does the same cutting waste, prioritizing essentials, and putting every tax dollar to work for you. Oborn: To address the city’s budget, I will prioritize a comprehensive review of each department to identify inefficiencies and optimize resource allocation. Increase funding should be directed toward critical infrastructure, which is vital for a well-functioning city. Key priorities include ensuring a sustainable, clean water supply and maintaining high quality streets and roads. While these investments may not always be visible, they are essential for supporting Blackfoot’s long-term growth and community well-being. Potential budget cuts will be determined through careful evaluation of department performance to eliminate waste while preserving essential services. Jensen Grove, once considered the crown jewel of Blackfoot, has not had enough water for recreational use in recent years. What will you do to help restore it or repurpose it into something else that benefits the community? Arave: Water: we have been trying to sell this to the State Water Resource Board as an aquifer recharge hence mining gravel. Anytime we stop the flow of water for a few days the level drops to an unusable amount. I believe that we should level the bottom out and apply something like Bentonite which would seal the bottom and help to maintain the water level. Then the pond could simply become a flow through allowing the overflow to drain back into the river. We need to purchase more water rights whenever they become available. Swimmers Itch has been talked about ever since I was a kid. I believe that we need to spray the weeds on the shore and figure out a way to keep the water full. When the water gets low it allows the bird droppings and other things to cause issues. Many people go to Rigby to swim in their lake because it doesn’t have swimmers itch. It is the same water so we have to solve the problem causing it. Besides what is there I think we should consider adding an outdoor pool that could be utilized in the summer months. This could be built at a reasonable rate that is affordable. Stufflebeam: Jensen Grove was once the crown jewel of Blackfoot—a place where families gathered, kids learned to swim, and visitors came from miles away to ski, fish, and make memories. Today, without water, it sits underused and overlooked. Families who used to plan their summers around the Grove now drive past it with disappointment. And with every lost visitor, our businesses lose out too. No water means no recreation, no traditions, and no local dollars spent in Blackfoot. This isn’t a problem that can be solved with quick promises or wishful thinking. It takes persistence, steady work, and a clear commitment to families who want their community back. As an attorney with decades of experience in contracts and water issues, I’ve studied the agreements that govern Jensen Grove—documents most people would never want to wade through. I’ve personally inspected the headgate that controls the water. The problems are real, but so are the solutions. Yes, there are challenges – cost, regulations, and limited resources. But we can face those challenges the right way: by making Jensen Grove a true priority, pressing for smarter solutions, and seeking funding that won’t take away from essential services. Restoring Jensen Grove is about more than filling a lake. It’s about giving families a place to gather, children a place to play, and our community a reason to be proud again. With my background in law, contracts, and water, I have the skills to help bring Jensen Grove back to life. Oborn: Restoring Jensen’s Grove water during the summer months can be achieved with a collaboration effort with all entities involved. No goal is out of reach with the right mindset and determination. Like many places in eastern Idaho, Blackfoot is experiencing unprecedented growth without enough affordable housing. What will you do to help prepare the city for future growth? Arave: Once again this is something that I need some more detailed facts before I can address it with any credibility. I do have my opinions so I will offer some. We need to make it affordable for contractors to build and sell within the city limits, so I think we need to take a serious look at the fee’s to hook up to the sewer and water. We get paid on their usage from the meters. I understand that there is an impact each time we do a new service but we have to have a balance between the fees and the added tax revenue to the city. We need to set out a plan, whether it is a four or six year plan to go through each of the streets in the city and do all necessary repairs, not just the main streets. We need to look at the requirements to obtain a building permit, some of them are necessary and some of them are not, many of which are costly and run the bill up. Stufflebeam: Blackfoot, like much of eastern Idaho, is growing faster than our housing supply can keep up. Rising interest rates, higher building costs, and inflation have pushed home prices and rents beyond the reach of too many working families. While new apartments and multi-family units have been built, wages here are often too low to make even those homes affordable. This isn’t just about numbers on a chart—it’s about families who want to stay in the community they love but feel priced out. Our kids and grandkids should be able to afford to live where they grew up. That means smart planning, listening to families, working with builders, and protecting taxpayers. The solution requires balance. The city must work with developers to create a healthy mix of housing—single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments—while aligning infrastructure and zoning decisions with long-term growth. Smart incentives can encourage investment, but they must be designed carefully so that taxpayers don’t carry the entire burden. We also have to face the simple truth: housing will never be affordable unless wages and jobs keep pace. Building homes without addressing jobs and income leaves families just as strained. With decades of experience in law, business, and planning, I know that responsible growth means weighing every factor—costs, wages, jobs, and infrastructure—before acting. If we do this right, growth won’t just add rooftops; it will strengthen families, protect taxpayers, and secure Blackfoot’s future for generations. Oborn: Blackfoot is experiencing significant growth, which strains the availability of affordable housing while threatening property value and the community’s cherished lifestyle. To prepare Blackfoot for sustainable growth, I will focus on the following strategies: Controlled development, affordable housing initiatives, and robust infrastructure investments. By implementing these measures, I aim to guide Blackfoot’s growth in a way that maintains its community, character, supports affordable housing, and ensures suitable development. The post Four candidates seek to replace Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll appeared first on East Idaho News.
Source: eastidahonews.com
Four candidates seek to replace Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll
