Jared Fuhriman, the Idaho Falls mayor, has a background in public service.  He has done much good in the community.  However, he does not have previous experience as an elected official.  If his activities were confined to his former duties as an Idaho Falls police detective, or to his ecclesiastical duties in a local congregation, residents of the city would have no cause to worry. However, he is now our mayor.

As police detective, Fuhriman reported to Chief of Police Kent Livsey. The organizational structure of the police department is anything but democratic – some might even call it an autocracy. The Chief speaks and the cops on the street (and the detectives in the black suits) jump. That’s just the way a police department works.

As a church leader, Fuhriman operates in a theocracy. And the mouthpieces for deity in his church unit are, of course, Fuhriman and the other leaders, accepted by common consent. That’s how it should be.

The problem arises when Fuhriman confuses the office of mayor with the duties and methods of a chief of police and/or a church leader. Time after time, he has demonstrated this confusion as he treats other elected officials as inferior hirelings. He also seems to have the impression that all his pronouncements bear the weight of scripture, to be obeyed as such.

To Mayor Fuhriman I say, You have a wonderful opportunity to serve the citizens of Idaho Falls, and to learn and grow personally.  Please bone up on democratic processes (Roberts Rules would be a good place to start). Do not assume you know the duties of all elected officials. Bone up on those, too. If in doubt, ask. Please study the US Constitution, and the writings of our founding fathers.  When your desire to serve and protect are combined with a firm knowledge of our form of government, you will be a truly amazing mayor of Idaho Falls.  But only you can make that happen.