(Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, October 13, 2025)
Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, a local government watchdog group, sent each City Council and Mayoral candidate a questionnaire focused on current issues the city faces. Below are Mayoral Candidate Alana Leonhardy’s responses:
1. The Right-of-Way (ROW) fees currently built into the three Enterprise Department Budgets are nearly identical to interfund fees that were ruled unlawful in Nez Perce district court. Do you support or oppose the elimination of these fees? Why?
No one likes hidden fees, I support removing them. Part of transparency is simplifying billing. The city needs to represent all of its costs. The state department has to maintain an accessible asset management system its time the city does as well. I don’t think the city government should be running a pay to win game, complete with micro transactions. In a real market companies do this for short term fast revenue gain usually just before they toss it or re-brand. Here we don’t have a choice to switch cancel or switch. Its just a failed scam when public institution tries this. Rates for services should be easy to understand and transparent.
2. Do you support or oppose the “One City” concept of combining Chubbuck and Pocatello? Why?
I do not support merging Pocatello and Chubbuck into one city. Personally I feel, the more your tax dollars move away from you, the less representation and effect you have when they are spent. When you are taxed your wealth is taken away and ideally given back in some service. You really don’t want fewer people and more agendas picking who gets that wealth back. If it never leaves your area it always comes back. You run the risk as Chubbuck, of Pocatello taking all your wealth for themselves.
My opinion aside, I wanted to look into this one a little more. This was a deep concern to one of my friends and honestly I wasn’t here last time this question was posed 2020 or succeeded partially 1962. Most recently it was asked as an advisory question in 2020. I only saw one article by ISJ stating county wide 53% opposed 47% for; in the county. I looked into the rolls because I wanted city numbers. I had to put them together myself so attaching rolls and my spreadsheet. By population Pocatello was 53.7% for, Chubbuck was 29%. Only 1 of Chubbuck’s districts made majority for this out of 11. In 1961 there was actually 3 cities. Alameda, Idaho was one. Chubbuck again didn’t vote to join and Alameda did by 68 votes. Under Idaho law at the time the new city is created under the ordinances and name of the larger party(Take Over). Alameda vanished 1962. It was an interesting transition with the Mayor of Alameda going to be congressman and the former residents not doing so great. I recommend others looking into this history before considering it. The story firmed my resolution that it is not a good idea. Chubbuck keep voting strong!
elected official accused of sexual harassment, etc.)?
You mention public being made aware of situations. I probably should ask for more clarification on this one, where you don’t mention who should be making them aware. If you mean journalists. I love investigation. As mayor with 500 employees I may not know of scandal another way, absolute support for this. I assume you mean the city making people aware proactively, without trying to hide behind delays and FOIA. I also agree. I see constituents as investors of the city, and public view of a company is directly related to investment.
