“I don’t feel like there’s one big next thing coming to Idaho Falls,” she said. “I feel like the life we’re living now is how it’s going to be—just more of it. [During city planning], we look at the things people are already enjoying—like the greenbelt—and work to expand them.”
And so that’s what she’s adding: more walking paths, another fire station, hopefully a community center for recreation and gathering. In other words, adding to the neighborliness that’s already here. “Idaho Falls is a friendly place,” she explained. “I love that people acknowledge each other, say hello, and wave to strangers. When you travel to other places, you realize how unique this is.”
Though she was raised in Idaho Falls, Lisa grew up dreaming of places much farther away. In fact, her original goal was to go to space.“I wanted to be an astronaut. I did!” she laughed. Launching her in that direction, her dad encouraged her to study mechanical engineering, which is how she ended up with a post-bachelor’s degree in the robotics lab at INL.
But her center of gravity has always been a love of people and of her hometown in Idaho Falls. Connecting with others and helping them work together is what has driven Lisa to spend so much of her life in public service—from 10 years on D91’s school board and five years on the city council to her current role as mayor of Idaho Falls.
“I’ve learned that everyone has a story, and meeting so many people who are passionate about what they do is just the greatest reward of public service,” Lisa said. “I love getting to know people where they’re at…why they came looking for help at the school, at the city, and seeing what they want to offer.”
Lisa’s own story is a great one. Raised in Idaho Falls, she graduated from Bonneville High School. After she graduated from college and her husband, Bryce, became a dentist, they raised four children here. Lisa loves the small-town vibes, nearby scenic hikes, and parks within biking distance. “My go-to activity with the kids was always biking. It was a great way to run errands, tire out the kids, and do something fun all at the same time.”
Lisa loves the outdoors, and is drawn to Idaho for its beautiful summers and gorgeous hikes just a short drive away.
“I love the beauty of hiking, and the accomplishment I feel when I’m finished,” she said. Each year she hikes the Wind Caves in Darby Canyon, Hidden Falls in Jenny’s Lake, and the Upper Palisades hike.
Biking around Idaho Falls is another thing Lisa enjoys, and it’s made easier with the canal trail system that the City has worked hard to expand. It’s one more way that Lisa wants to connect the citizens to each other and to nature. But her favorite destination is downtown.
“Downtown is the draw for me,” Lisa said. “I love to bike from my house to the downtown restaurants, and around the river. We have a vibrant downtown, and there are so many independent stores and unique places there. ”
The current expansion of Idaho Falls and its population is exciting to Lisa, although she’s not interested in growth just for growth’s sake. She’s happiest when new people bring new ideas, and when there’s a feeling of excitement instead of decline.
“The opposite of growth is decay, and we saw that happen here in the early 1990s,” Lisa said. “There were layoffs and empty buildings; downtown was not vibrant and so many businesses moved to the east side. As the City of Idaho Falls currently works to manage our growth, we know it’s a good problem to have.”
At the forefront of Lisa’s mind is how to communicate with the citizens and let them know about projects and initiatives the city is working on.
“We’re working hard to share our message. The number of people it takes for things to run smoothly is incredible, and it’s easy to take things for granted. There are so many people here doing good work and we want to celebrate that,” she said.
Spending her days in meetings, Lisa works to build bridges with county commissioners, neighboring municipality mayors, and local businesses. She wants to bring the community together and celebrate the good that’s here.
“I know it’s becoming a bit of a tagline, but Idaho Falls is a great place to live,” Lisa said emphatically. “It’s a great place to raise a family. It’s a great place to grow a business. The future here is exciting!”