About Dave Bieter

David H. Bieter was born and raised in Boise. The son of longtime community leaders Pat and Eloise Bieter, he graduated from Bishop Kelly High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies at The College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Bieter returned to Idaho to earn his Juris Doctorate at University of Idaho College of Law. He gained expertise in municipal issues as civil counsel to Bonner County in Sandpoint, as civil prosecutor and land-use specialist in the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, and later as a private attorney. He was chosen to assume his father’s seat in the Idaho House of Representatives after both of his parents were killed in an automobile accident in 1999. Voters elected him to full terms in the House in 2000 and again in 2002.

Dave was elected Boise Mayor in 2003, after the resignation of his predecessor, and was re-elected in 2007.  He ran on a platform to restore faith and ethics in city government, improve service and accountability, protect and enhance Boise’s livability, and bring a sharper focus to the needs of Boise’s neighborhoods. Dave also emphasized an economic development and revitalization program that has been especially important as we weather the national economic recession.

As Mayor, Bieter created the first municipal ethics commission in Idaho. He succeeded in funding four new neighborhood libraries with no tax increase and the building of three new community centers at no construction cost to the city.  Bieter oversaw the protection of hundreds of acres of Boise’s signature Foothills and the addition of more than 100 acres of new or developed parklands in 2006 alone. Under Bieter’s leadership Boise will soon cut the ribbon on River Recreation and Esther Simplot parks, which will help revitalize the western portion of downtown.

Bieter leads the countywide Blueprint for Good Growth and was the first mayor in Idaho to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, committing Boise to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Bieter is fluent in Basque and Spanish, and has been involved extensively in Boise’s Basque community. In 2005, Basque President Juan Jose Ibarretxe presented Bieter with the Sabino Arana “Basques Throughout the World” Award for his work on behalf of Basque peace and self-determination.

Dave Bieter has been married to his wife, Julia, since 1998. They have a daughter, Josie, born in 2005.