Labor Day is here, which means Fall is right around the corner. Whether you love football, the cooler evening nights, or celebrating one of the upcoming holidays, there is always something to do during one of my favorite times of the year.
We have also entered election season for local governments in Meridian and Ada County. On November 4, there will be elections for Meridian City Council, a Public Safety Levy, West Ada School District Trustees in Zones 1 and 3, West Ada Recreation District, and the Meridian Cemetery District. I encourage you to be engaged, participate in our local elections, and make your vote count this November.
City Council Races
This November, three City Council seats are up for election. Because Meridian now elects Councilmembers by district, only residents who live within Districts 1, 4, or 6 will be able to vote for their representative this year. While write-in candidates have until this Friday to be considered, the candidates who have filed are:
- District 1
- Brian Whitlock
- District 4
- John Overton
- District 6
- Luke Cavener
Public Safety Levy
I know I have shared information about this before, but another key item you’ll see on the ballot is the proposed Public Safety Levy. Information about the levy can be found on our website at meridiancity.org/publicsafetylevy.
If approved, the levy will be used to:
- Retain 13 firefighter positions following the exhaustion of grant funds in 2026.
- Increase police officer wages to recruit and retain officers
- Fund a prosecution team to prosecute crimes.
The City will collect $5,018,1125.17 from the levy, beyond any amount otherwise allowed by law, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on October 1, 2026, and continuing each fiscal year thereafter. The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer will be a tax of $20.11 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based on current conditions.
General Election Information
Ada County Elections offers helpful information on registering to vote, seeing where your polling location is, and their “View My Ballot” tool, which allows you to view a personalized sample ballot with all the races and measures specific to you.
As you prepare to vote, here are the important deadlines to keep in mind this season:
- Early Voting Begins: October 14, 2025
- Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: October 24, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 — polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
You can learn more about elections on Ada County’s Election website.
Whether you vote early, absentee, or at the polls on Election Day, please know that your voice matters and it will determine the future direction of Meridian.
About the author
Mayor Simison