Meridian Mayor Robert Simison

Meridian Mayor Robert Simison

Born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, Mayor Robert Simison graduated from Whitman College with a degree in history and has spent his life focused on advancing policy priorities at the local and national level. Mayor Simison’s service to Meridian began in 2007 after he worked at the Nation’s Capital, and he has been a champion for common sense policy solutions to address community challenges. Elected as the 26th Mayor of Meridian in 2019, Mayor Simison focuses on meeting the needs of residents by delivering premier services to the public and improving the transportation network, while ensuring that Meridian remains a safe community built around families. Mayor Simson’s efforts have led to advancing road projects such as the Linder Road overpass, and the building of two new fire stations and a police precinct. Additionally, under his leadership, the Meridian Police Department has implemented a Crisis Intervention Team, added School Resource Officers dedicated to elementary schools, and expanded its focus on drug prevention efforts. Mayor Simison is also focused on enhancing services for families to live, work and play. This includes the expansion of Discovery Park, and investments at the Lakeview Golf Club and the Meridian Pool. Mayor Simison is active professionally at the local, state and national level. Along with several board roles as Mayor locally, Mayor Simison has been actively engaged with the Meridian Chamber of Commerce for over 15 years and is a former board member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Idaho. He currently serves as the President of the Association of Idaho Cities and is a member of the Idaho Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Nationally, Mayor Simison currently serves under Presidential appointment on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, a position he also held from 2020-2023. Mayor Simison is a husband to Jenny, and father to Ethan, Natalie, and Ryan. The Simson’s live in south Meridian and enjoy skiing together throughout Idaho each winter. Here We Have Idaho is a local radio show heard on KSPD 790 AM and 94.5 FM [https://www.790kspd.com/]at 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Here We Have Idaho is a  show focusing on celebrating Idaho and all that makes Idaho great.  Hear We Have Idaho will focus on the issues and events that impact Idaho’s citizens and families.  Each week we will visit those that are writing Idaho’s story and keeping the spirit of our state song alive with hosts Victor Miller and  Tom Luna. https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/ [https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/]

Lori Wolff- Idaho Division of Financial Management

Support the Governor in overseeing the implementation of the Governor’s vision across the Executive Branch. DFM’s mission is to assist the Governor in meeting policy, budget, management, and regulatory objectives and to fulfill the agency’s statutory responsibilities. Here We Have Idaho is a local radio show heard on KSPD 790 AM and 94.5 FM [https://www.790kspd.com/]at 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Here We Have Idaho is a  show focusing on celebrating Idaho and all that makes Idaho great.  Hear We Have Idaho will focus on the issues and events that impact Idaho’s citizens and families.  Each week we will visit those that are writing Idaho’s story and keeping the spirit of our state song alive with hosts Victor Miller and  Tom Luna. https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/ [https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/]

Tom Dayley District 3 Commissioner

Tom Dayley is a fifth-generation Idahoan. Growing up as the ninth of 12 children helped Tom formulate his basic values of the importance of hard work, reverence for the sanctity of life, and the need for personal responsibility. After receiving his BA in Political Science/Spanish at Brigham Young University, Tom continued his education with an MA in International Relations at the University of Southern California in Oxford, England. Tom served his country four years in the United States Air Force, where he received the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service as the Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of the Target Materials Vault, Intelligence Division, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing. Tom learned the importance of listening to people as part of his several years as a Reagan Administration appointee. He served in the Office of Congressional Relations at the US Department of Agriculture; as deputy director of a President Reagan Private Sector Initiative at the Department of Health and Human Services; and in the Office of Post-Secondary Education at the US Department of Education. He has worked extensively on Idaho issues in several capacities, such as the Idaho State Executive Director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (now the Farm Service Agency), the Executive Director of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, and Plant Industries Division Administrator of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. He also worked as Idaho Subbasin Planning Coordinator for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Tom has also accomplished legislative, constituent and other duties for various members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation including Senators Symms, Kempthorne, Craig and McClure. An important part of Tom’s life has been active participation in community service. He has been involved with Boy Scouts of America, United Way, American Legion, and Rotary International. His bilingual skills have enabled him to offer translation services for a low income dental clinic, and to fill several roles with Meridian House International/ Foreign Visitor Program Service. Commissioner Dayley has been married to his wife Catherine for 53 years and has two children and four grandchildren. You can contact Dayley at bocc1@adacounty.id.gov [bocc1@adacounty.id.gov] or call 208-287-7000 [tel:2082877000]. Here We Have Idaho is a local radio show heard on KSPD 790 AM and 94.5 FM [https://www.790kspd.com/]at 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Here We Have Idaho is a  show focusing on celebrating Idaho and all that makes Idaho great.  Hear We Have Idaho will focus on the issues and events that impact Idaho’s citizens and families.  Each week we will visit those that are writing Idaho’s story and keeping the spirit of our state song alive with hosts Victor Miller and  Tom Luna. https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/ [https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/]

Idaho's own Chef Lou Aaron

Chef Lou was born in Boise and when he was 11 days old, his family moved back to their home state of Alabama. He spent his first 11 years of his life there, but his family moved back to Boise in 1973 after bouts with bad weather and tornados made them remember how beautiful and peaceful it was in Boise. He attended St. Mary's Grade School and graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in 1980. Lou graduated from the American Culinary Federation's Chef's Apprenticeship program in 1984. He has worked in restaurants since 1977. His first job was at the Havana Club-Bouquet restaurant in Boise where he washed dishes and bussed tables. He Chef-apprenticed in Boise at the Gamekeeper Restaurant in the Owyhee Hotel and the well-remembered Royal restaurant in Boise under American Academy of Chef member, John R. Fisher. Lou moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1981 and worked for Hilton Hotels until 1983. In 1983, he opened The Top of the Hoff restaurant in Boise, Idaho. From 1986-1988, Lou worked for Hilton Corporation in San Antonio, Texas, where he was featured in the national television series "Great Chef's of the West" along with the companion cookbook, "Southwest Tastes". Lou has won numerous awards for his food presentations and recipes. He has been a contestant on "Guy's Grocery Games"(although he didn't fare very well!) He attributes his love for cooking from his Mom & Dad. "My dad cooked great Southern foods and My Mom's history is from the Abruzzi Region in Italy, so I got a good mix of old fashioned Southern comfort food and wonderful Italian regional specialties." He has a love for both styles, but he really fell in love with Southwestern food when he was in Texas. Lou has a lot of fun mixing and matching these cuisines. From 1989-1994, Lou was a Corporate Chef for Ram International (Murphy's, the Ram). In 1994, Lou and his partner Ron Isaacs (Father-in-Law) purchased The Westside Drive-in, transforming the little Drive-In into a full blown unique Food experience. The Westside makes all their soups, sauces, and staple recipes from scratch, as well roasting all their meats and baking fresh bread. It has been a key ingredient to the Westside's success. The Westside has been the recipient of many awards over the last 22 years, and its recipes have been featured in 2 national Cookbooks. We are very proud to be a Boise institution! In 2009, the Westside was featured in the hit Food Network show, "Diner's, Drive-In's, and Dives." With such great exposure, Lou decided to open another Westside Drive-In in Southeast Boise in 2012. Now, there are two Westsides to serve you! He also 100% wholeheartedly believes that Happy Cooks make Happy People! Lou met his wife of 30 fantastic years, Renee, in 1985, when she was working with him at The Top of the Hoff. They were married in 1987. Their oldest son, Josh, is owner and operator the Parkcenter Westside, and their daughter, Emily, is the bookkeeper for both restaurants. Chef Lou enjoys cooking in front of people and he has had a cooking segment on NBC's KTVB Channel 7 for 23 years. He also runs the incredibly popular Idaho Ice Cream Potato Booths at the Western Idaho Fair and Art in the Park. Lou is currently serving as President of his Company, RILA Business Concepts, Inc. and also as President of Boise based Creative Foods, Inc., the company that manufactures Chef Lou's famous dessert, The Idaho Ice Cream Potato. He is a past chairman of NFIB(National Federation of Independent Business) Idaho. He was recently ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church and believes life's mission truly is about helping other people on their journey. Lou is so very thankful for all the many people throughout his life that have helped him on his journey. Here We Have Idaho is a local radio show heard on KSPD 790 AM and 94.5 FM [https://www.790kspd.com/]at 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Here We Have Idaho is a  show focusing on celebrating Idaho and all that makes Idaho great.  Hear We Have Idaho will focus on the issues and events that impact Idaho’s citizens and families.  Each week we will visit those that are writing Idaho’s story and keeping the spirit of our state song alive with hosts Victor Miller and  Tom Luna. https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/ [https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/]

Trent Tripple, Ada County Clerk

At Ada County Elections, our job is to help our community vote. Each day, we are driven by our mission to safeguard your trust by conducting fair and transparent elections. We are the largest elections office in Idaho, overseeing 197 precincts and serving approximately 300,000 registered voters on Election Day. Voting is an important right for all American citizens. We hope our work will make it easier for you to participate in this democratic process and vote. Voting is easy. Voting is secure. Voting is accurate. Review the 12 Principles of Idaho’s Elections here [https://voteidaho.gov/12-principles-of-idaho-elections/]. What we do Our team is here to serve the community. We wear many different hats and each day looks a little bit different. This list gives you an idea of the services we provide to Ada County: * Administer all federal, state, county, city and taxing district elections in Ada County * Maintain Ada County registered voters’ database * Provide voter registration * Conduct early voting and vote by mail programs * Offer proof of residency for citizens * Fill public information requests * Help educate citizens about voting in Ada County Trent Tripple Ada County Clerk Contact the Clerk Phone: 208 287-6860 Mail: 200 W Front Street, Boise, ID 83702 Office: 200 W Front Street, Boise, ID 83702 Email: adacountyclerk@adacounty.id.gov [adacountyclerk@adacounty.id.gov] Here We Have Idaho is a local radio show heard on KSPD 790 AM and 94.5 FM [https://www.790kspd.com/]at 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Here We Have Idaho is a  show focusing on celebrating Idaho and all that makes Idaho great.  Hear We Have Idaho will focus on the issues and events that impact Idaho’s citizens and families.  Each week we will visit those that are writing Idaho’s story and keeping the spirit of our state song alive with hosts Victor Miller and  Tom Luna. https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/ [https://www.790kspd.com/here-we-have-idaho/]