Incumbent New Meadows Mayor Julie Good will be challenged by write-in candidate Richard Yelton in the Nov. 4 election.
Good, 61, is seeking her second term as mayor, a position to which she was appointed in 2020 after serving as a member of the New Meadows City Council since 2014. She was re-elected to a four-year term in 2021.
Yelton, 72, will try to unseat Good, though his name will not appear on the ballot because he filed as a write-in candidate. The candidate who receives the most votes will be elected to a four-year term that begins in January.
In New Meadows, the mayor is the city’s top executive and oversees city employees and operations. The mayor presides over city council meetings, but only votes to break ties.
The mayoral position requires an average of about 30 hours per week and comes with an annual salary of $1,800.
Seats on the city council currently held by Traci Foster and Shiloh Ryker are also up for election in November, but neither incumbent is being challenged in their bids for new terms.
Early voting opens Monday, Oct. 20, at the Adams County Courthouse in Council. It will remain open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Oct. 31. Absentee ballots can be requested here.On Election Day, McCall residents can cast ballots at Idaho First Bank in McCall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voter registration is open online through Oct. 24 and will also be available at the polls with current proof of residence and photo ID.
On Election Day, New Meadows residents can cast ballots for Good or Yelton from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the New Meadows Train Depot.
Valley Lookout sent a list of questions to each candidate regarding their candidacy. Their exact responses are published below.
Challenger: Richard Yelton
Why are you seeking election to the New Meadows City Council as Mayor?
Yelton: Small towns like New Meadows are the lifeblood of our nation. It is my goal to lead our community to promote prosperity, economic growth and overall community well-being. I believe the decision-making processes in New Meadows have taken a different route than many citizens envisioned for our town. Through open communication and collaboration with the city council and our community members, I will promise equity and fairness in all decision-making.
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What would you like to change about the city’s current governance?
Yelton: Transparency, kindness and common sense will be key to the future success of New Meadows. The current administration lacks transparency. When challenged, the governing individual becomes difficult to work with and hostile to opposing opinions, thus making it difficult to arrive at mutually agreed upon solutions that are in the best interests of the entire community.
Are there any specific decisions made over the last 4 years that you would have handled differently? If so, please briefly describe.
Yelton: The decision to move the city offices to the train station was done without the input of the community members. The mayor worked with the historical committee for the train station and arrived at agreements without openly airing her plan. The deal was made and cemented before the one community meeting where the plan was presented. The station wasn’t and still is not suitable for offices or use on the second floor. It doesn’t meet fire codes or codes for wheelchairs. The meeting was held, and the mayor could not answer simple questions about budgetary issues with the move. She was unprepared and simply shut community members down when they asked for details.
A plan to move the city hall offices should have scheduled a minimum of three community meetings to gather input and answer questions. The plan should have included a forecasted budget, and reports indicating the overall viability of the project including fire safety and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance.
While some cities in the region are being overwhelmed by growth, New Meadows seems to be in a position to capitalize on growth. Do you agree? What should the city be doing to ensure growth benefits current residents? What might those benefits be?
Yelton: Growth is inevitable. It will happen. How we approach it is the most important factor. It will require strategic planning, community engagement, and sustainable practices. The citizens of New Meadows need to be involved in the decision processes to ensure that the growth reflects their values and aspirations. We need to develop a roadmap with community input that outlines the goals for growth that are compatible with the character and charm of New Meadows. The infrastructure must be in place so we can avoid issues that have caused big problems in our neighboring towns like McCall.
Infrastructure services that need to be our primary focus include schools, power, city water and sewer services, law enforcement, EMT and fire services and roads. We can’t put the cart before the horse.
What should voters know about you before casting their vote?
Yelton: I was born in Council, Idaho, in 1953. My roots are in McCall and New Meadows. My background includes all aspects of road construction as an employee of Knife River. I have extensive experience in the processes and development of subdivisions from the ground up. I have worked in many cities throughout our nation, managing more than 100 employees. I will collaborate with the community members and be a voice for the citizens of New Meadows. Together, we can make New Meadows prosperous and a community we can all be proud of once again.
Incumbent: Julie Good
Why are you seeking re-election to the New Meadows City Council?
Good: I am seeking re-election because I feel that I have the leadership and experience required to continue to work with the City Council to provide benefits to our community that will enhance their quality of life and the future of our community.
What are you proud of from your last four years on the council?
Good: Over the past four years, I’ve brought several projects to City Council that delivered lasting benefits to our community. One highlight is the Gold Line—a free transit bus between New Meadows and McCall, providing reliable transportation for workers, students, and families. This service, made possible through collaboration with Treasure Valley Transit and local partners, received the Idaho Transportation Department’s Distinguished Service Award in 2024. During the Highway 95 shutdown, I also coordinated an emergency shuttle to keep workers connected and businesses supported across the region.
Over my 11 years on the Council, I’ve helped the City secure assets worth over $10 million —without raising taxes — including the new City Hall at the P&IN Railway Depot, the Mehen Memorial Skate Park, and the New Meadows Youth Center. In 2025, I was honored with the John Evans Award for Outstanding Service.
What are a few failures or challenges the council has faced during the last four years, and how have those better equipped you to serve the city moving forward?
Good: A major challenge has been addressing housing needs amid shifting economic conditions. This has led to proactive planning and a thorough review of zoning ordinances. We’ve also had to deal with the lack of funding for several necessary projects when competing with communities that have a larger population base. In response, we have invested in networking efforts, which have led to alternative funding sources without burdening the citizens with additional debt. Maintaining an adequate workforce with wages commiserate with the current regional pay scale has also been challenging, but we currently have an amazing team that works well together while juggling the increased workload due to population growth.
Do you have any specific goals you would like the city to achieve over the next four years.
Good: I remain committed to securing funding for ongoing street improvements, with guidance from the new Roads and Streets Committee. With the Wastewater Facility plan update being completed soon, the City will be looking at the best route forward for wastewater infrastructure upgrades. A Comprehensive plan update and continued zoning ordinance review will be part of the priority in meeting the challenges of continued growth.
I’ve also begun work to expand the Gold Line to Meadowcreek and Council and would like to complete that project. I will continue to pursue the launch of a Mayor’s Youth Council to involve young people in City planning.
Over the next four years, I aim to strengthen collaboration with groups like the Fire Department, EMS, Southwest District Health, Ignite Idaho, the Youth Advocacy Coalition, St. Luke’s, and the School District to better support the physical, social, and mental health needs of our community. Often there are funds and programs available that can benefit the whole community when the conversation is ongoing between the different entities.
There is great interest and potential funding available to upgrade our City park infrastructure and create several other outdoor spaces in our community. I plan to pursue those possibilities as per City Council’s direction.
I will continue to support and advocate for the City’s team and the many volunteers and unsung heroes who lay aside their personal agendas to help individuals and the community as a whole achieve their very best.
While many cities in the region are being overwhelmed by growth, New Meadows appears to be in position to capitalize on it. Do you agree with this? If so, what is the city doing to ensure growth benefits current residents? And, what might those benefits be?
Good: The City is well-positioned to guide future growth in a way that benefits our community while minimizing negative impacts. Through strategic planning and collaboration, we are laying the foundation for a thriving future. Recent examples include major upgrades to our water infrastructure and the near completion of a comprehensive wastewater facility plan update. We’re also actively reviewing our zoning ordinances to ensure they support responsible, sustainable development. In partnership with local agencies, we’re working to ensure that critical services and infrastructure can meet the demands of a growing population—without disruption. With smart planning, we can ensure that growth brings stronger infrastructure and long-term benefits for all our residents.
Your most recent term as mayor coincided with one of the darkest days in New Meadows’ history — a double murder at the Heartland Hotel in 2022. How did that event challenge you as a mayor, and what lessons did you take away from it that you believe would serve constituents well if you are re-elected mayor?
Good: The event at the Hartland Inn on October 1, 2022, was a very dark day in our community and a deeply personal loss. As a leader, I chose to represent us not as victims, but as a community that rises above tragedy. I immediately coordinated with local organizations to ensure support and resources were available during the aftermath.
The Mehen Memorial Skate Park became a part of our healing — a testimony of the perseverance of this community to provide a lasting symbol of resilience and hope for our youth. Whether it’s responding to daily concerns like dogs at large or major events that shake our sense of safety, this is an example of leadership through both the everyday and the life-changing events.
What should voters know about you before casting their vote?
Good: I’ve made it a priority to remain accessible and responsive to questions, concerns, and feedback from the community — and that won’t change. The City has a great City Council and amazing staff, and I will continue to work hard to support their success. I dedicate 30–35 hours a week to mayoral duties, plus an additional 12-15 hours a month in meetings with boards and committees to maintain the partnerships that are so crucial to the City’s needs. I remain committed to transparency, honesty, and active community involvement.
I’m 61 years old and have called New Meadows home since 1970, except for brief periods when I was in high school and when my husband served in the military. I have a bookkeeping business with clients from Boise to Lewiston. With my leadership experience, extensive knowledge of city government, budgeting, and municipal finances, along with the strong relationships I have built with key community partners, I believe I am the best choice for Mayor of the City of New Meadows for another four years.
