The city of Boise has elected its first ever female mayor.
In an historic runoff election on Tuesday, Lauren McLean received more than 65 percent of the vote to unseat long-time Boise mayor Dave Bieter, who has served four terms in office since first taking the role in 2003.
The runoff election was called after the November election saw no candidate receive 50 percent of the vote, as McLean had 46 percent and Bieter 30 percent.
Previously, McLean spent eight years on the Boise City Council, most recently serving as council president. Her win Tuesday night makes her the city’s first female mayor to be elected to a full term in office. Caroline Terteling Payne was appointed interim mayor after mayor Brent Coles resigned from office in the early 2000s.
McLean will be sworn in as Boise mayor next month.
Meanwhile, in another runoff election Tuesday, former Idaho state Senator Republican John McGee won a seat on the Caldwell City Council. McGee received 61 percent of the vote over Idaho Democratic Party Chair Evangeline Beechler.
McGee resigned from the Idaho senate in 2012 after a sexual harassment accusation and served 39 days in jail for violating probation associated with the case. (KTVB, Boise State Public Radio)
