Two Mask Mandate Votes in Idaho Health Districts Yield Different Results

By Greg Pruett • November 19, 2020

On Thursday, two of Idaho’s health districts had scheduled votes on mask mandates.

These votes also come as Rexburg, Lewiston, and Pocatello also consider mask mandates. Rexburg, while already under a mask mandate, delayed a vote on a more strict mandate yesterday after a chaotic city council meeting.

Today, the Southwest Central Public Health District and the Panhandle Health District met to discuss and vote on mask mandates for their respective areas.

SCPHD voted 5-4 against a mask mandate while PHD voted 4-2 in favor of a mask mandate.

SCPHD covers the following counties: Camas, Blaine, Gooding, Lincoln, Jerome, Minidoka, Twin Falls, and Cassia

Several citizens told Idaho Dispatch that approximately 200 people attended a protest against the mask mandate proposal.

90 minutes were designated for public comment with citizens limited to two minutes each. Approximately 36 people ended up testifying with the vast majority of them opposed to a mask mandate according to several citizens who were at the meeting.

After a lengthy meeting, the vote to kill the mandate was 5-4.

Here are the SCPHD board members who voted against the mask mandate: Brent Reinke, Linda Montgomery, Roy Hubert, Robert Kunau, Helen Edwards

The following individuals voted in favor of the mask mandate: Angenie McCleary, Pamela Jones, Tracy Haskin, Keith Davis

Meanwhile, in northern Idaho, the Panhandle Health District passed a mask mandate on a vote of 4-2.

The Panhandle Health District covers the following counties: Kootenai, Bonner, Shoshone, Boundary, and Benewah

Idaho Dispatch was unable to confirm an approximate number of people who attended the protest at the PHD meeting but pictures we have show approximately 20 people in attendance. However, we will note that sometimes pictures of events do not capture everyone in attendance. If you attended the protest in Coeur d’Alene, please let us know at info@idahodispatch.com.

The Panhandle Health District had a mask mandate in place previously but rescinded it in late October.

The penalties under the mask mandate are a possible $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

After the conclusion of the discussion, the board voted 4-2 in favor of the mandate, and one member, Walt Kirby, abstaining.

Here are the PHD members who voted in favor of the mask mandate: Mike Fitzgerald, Marlow Thompson, Richard McLandress, Jai Nelson

The following individuals voted against the mask mandate: Glen Bailey and Allen Banks

For a detailed list of current passed and failed mask mandates you can see our article here.