(Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, October 15, 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 City Council Candidate Jeremy Marley’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?
I don’t support any fee that’s being used to quietly pull money out of where it doesn’t belong. If the courts already said something like this is unlawful, we should take that seriously and fix it — not find creative ways around it.
Our enterprise funds — water, sewer, sanitation — exist to serve the people who pay into them, not to backfill unrelated budgets. I support full transparency and the elimination of any fee that isn’t clearly justified, lawful, and explained to the public in plain language.
2. Do you support or oppose the “One City” concept of combining Chubbuck and Pocatello? Why?
Right now, I’m not happy with the relationship between Pocatello and Chubbuck. Some will disagree, and that’s alright — but Pocatello is not a teat for other communities in the county to draw from without giving back in kind.
I want to see our cities work together symbiotically, where both communities benefit and contribute equally. But at this stage, Pocatello has given much, and it’s time for us to regain our center of balance — strengthen our foundation, prioritize our own infrastructure, and restore local trust before we talk about merging identities or resources.
3. Do you believe that the public should be made aware of situations that could be viewed as placing the City or City elected officials in an unfavorable light so long as such disclosure does not disclose confidential information (Examples: City named in a lawsuit, City elected official accused of sexual harassment, etc.)?
Yes, I believe the public has a right to know when the City or its elected officials are involved in issues that could affect public trust — as long as confidentiality and legal boundaries are respected.
When leadership hides uncomfortable truths, it erodes trust. When we’re honest and upfront, even about tough situations, it shows integrity.
Transparency isn’t bad press — it’s responsible leadership. And if I’m elected, that’s the standard I’ll hold myself and the City to every day.
