The City Club of Idaho Falls

2026_6_11 Mary Lynn Hartwell - John D. Hansen Award

Building Community Through Philanthropy with Mary Lynn Hartwell At the City Club of Idaho Falls Annual Meeting, Mary Lynn Hartwell, recipient of the 2026 John D. Hansen Award, reflected on a lifetime of service, leadership, and philanthropy in Eastern Idaho. Drawing on her experiences with United Way, the Idaho Community Foundation, the Idaho Falls Arts Council, and countless community initiatives, Mary Lynn shared how lasting change happens when neighbors come together to solve shared problems. She emphasized that philanthropy is more than charitable giving—it's about building relationships, creating opportunities, and investing in future generations. Throughout the evening, Mary Lynn inspired us by highlighting the power of ordinary people working together, reminding attendees that community is built "neighbor by neighbor, gift by gift, yes by yes."

2026_5_14 Secretary of State Phil McGrane

Idaho’s Primary Election Process & Participation Featuring Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane What drives voter participation in Idaho? How secure are our elections? And how is outside money shaping Idaho’s political landscape? At City Club of Idaho Falls, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane delivered a data-driven look at Idaho’s primary election system, voter turnout trends, election security, campaign finance, and the growing influence of political spending in state races. McGrane emphasized the importance of voter participation, transparency, and public trust in Idaho’s election process — reminding attendees that even a handful of votes can shape Idaho’s future. Please use voteidaho.gov to find

2026_4_16 2026 Legislative Recap

In this City Club of Idaho Falls forum, veteran statehouse reporters Kevin Richert (Idaho Education News) and Clark Corbin (Idaho Capital Sun) break down the 2026 Idaho legislative session—one defined by deep budget cuts, intense policy debates, and a shifting political climate. Corbin opens with a clear takeaway: this was a “budget-driven session,” shaped by years of tax cuts and new fiscal pressures that forced lawmakers into difficult decisions. He describes across-the-board reductions to state agencies and concerns about transparency, with one legislator likening the approach to “taking a chainsaw to the state budget.” Richert echoes the intensity, calling the session “unrelenting,” as lawmakers revisited and reshaped policy proposals again and again. From education funding changes to the future of programs like the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance, he highlights how many decisions are only beginning to take shape—and how their real impact will be felt in the months ahead. Together, the two offer not just a recap, but a behind-the-scenes look at how decisions were made, the challenges lawmakers faced, and what Idahoans should be watching next as new laws and budget cuts are put into action.

2026_3_19 When Cuts Cost More with Sheriff Sam Hulse and DeVere Hunt

The City Club of Idaho Falls forum, “When Cuts Cost More,” highlighted the growing strain on Idaho’s mental health and crisis response systems following Medicaid and program cuts. Sheriff Sam Hulse and DeVere Hunt emphasized how reduced services—especially peer support and regional behavioral health coordination—are increasing pressure on law enforcement, jails, and emergency departments. They underscored the importance of community-based crisis centers, collaboration, and continued advocacy to prevent vulnerable individuals from falling into cycles of crisis and incarceration.

02_19_2026 Dave Lent - Rethinking Education for a Changing Economy

Rethinking Education for a Changing Economy Description: At a recent City Club of Idaho Falls forum, Senator Dave Lent explored how Idaho’s education system must evolve to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. Drawing on history, economic trends, and his own experience growing up in eastern Idaho and working at the Idaho National Laboratory, Senator Lent discussed how today’s public education system was largely designed more than a century ago to serve an industrial economy. In contrast, today’s students are entering a world shaped by technology, artificial intelligence, and a knowledge-based economy. During the presentation, Lent asked participants to reflect on three key questions: • What is the purpose of public education today? • How can trust in public education be rebuilt? • How can business and industry play a stronger role in preparing students for the workforce? The discussion highlighted how Idaho’s schools are performing well relative to national averages despite receiving significantly less funding than many other states. Lent emphasized the need to move beyond rigid systems built around seat time and standardized testing toward more flexible approaches that focus on skills, outcomes, and workforce readiness. He also explored emerging ideas such as competency-based learning, stronger collaboration with industry, and community school models that connect education with healthcare, social services, and local needs. The conversation ultimately focused on a central question facing educators, policymakers, and communities alike: What should Idaho’s education system look like 20 years from now—and how do we begin building it today? Click here for Slides from the presentation: https://ifcityclub.com/slides/