All Episodes

October 13, 2025 38 mins

Garden City, Idaho is only four square miles—but right now, it feels like the center of the Treasure Valley. With a professional soccer team arriving, the Expo sports park taking shape, and the river and Greenbelt drawing more people every season, the stakes for smart, human‑centered growth have never been higher. We sit down with mayoral candidate and longtime community leader Molly Lenty to map out how a small city can make big moves without losing the people and places that make it home.

Molly’s path started with “accidental leadership”—showing up for hard school district votes, winning bond and levy campaigns, and guiding visioning work that translated values into buildable plans. That experience informs a clear framework for Garden City: pair a shared North Star with practical tools like urban renewal, targeted incentives for mixed‑income housing, and neighborhood pocket parks that make streets safer and families feel rooted. We dig into the Glenwood–Chinden corridor’s potential as an entertainment and mobility district, the role of a pedestrian bridge and better north–south connections, and why active transportation can’t rest on the Greenbelt alone.

We also get candid about zoning friction and “first do no harm” governance. Molly explains how to simplify approvals without lowering standards, collaborate with Ada County and nearby cities, and protect long‑time residents from displacement as investment accelerates on the east side. And because local elections are personal, she shares what she hears at the doorstep, why she handwrites her phone number on campaign cards, and how four thousand votes could redefine the city’s future.

If you care about inclusive growth, safer streets, and a riverfront that welcomes everyone, this conversation will give you a blueprint and the motivation to act. Listen, share with a Garden City neighbor, and if the show resonates, follow, rate, and leave a review—then text a voter who needs to hear this.

Follow Ahlquist on Social Media:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ahlquist/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ahlquistdev/

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@ahlquistdev

X (Twitter): ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/ahlquistdev

Meta (Facebook): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ahlquistdev/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ahlquistdev?si=ejOXPKRqQjtsdVFE


Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:00):
Today on the Ever Onward Podcast, we have uh the
next mayor of Garden City, uhMolly Lenty.
Molly is a longtime friend.
Uh she has served on everyboard.
Uh uh I met her first 20 yearsago when we were serving on the
uh um United Way Board of theTreasure Valley.
Uh she is uh currently acandidate for mayor of the city

(00:20):
of Garden City.
Uh we are enthusiasticallysupporting her and really
excited to get her on thepodcast today to talk about her
vision for Garden City, MollyLenty.
Mayor.

unknown (00:41):
Hi.

SPEAKER_03 (00:42):
That sounds good.
You gonna do this?

SPEAKER_00 (00:44):
I'm doing it.

SPEAKER_03 (00:46):
Molly Lenty, thanks for coming on.

SPEAKER_00 (00:48):
Yeah, absolutely.
Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_03 (00:50):
You've been busy.

SPEAKER_00 (00:51):
It's it's uh it's busy.
You know, this time of year isalways busy.

SPEAKER_03 (00:55):
I've got your uh I've got your campaign hat on.
I am the treasurer of yourcampaign hat.

SPEAKER_00 (01:00):
Oh, you are.
Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_03 (01:01):
So we needed to get you on here because uh I'm
excited for you.

SPEAKER_00 (01:05):
Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_03 (01:06):
This is gonna be fun.

SPEAKER_00 (01:08):
It's uh it's an important time in Garden City.

SPEAKER_03 (01:12):
I when you told me you were gonna do this, I
thought it's such a naturalprogression for you.

SPEAKER_00 (01:17):
Oh, well, I I appreciate that.
You know, I think for those ofus that are servant leaders, um
it you know, it's never been onmy list to be mayor.
Never been on the radar in thatway, but I think, you know, when
you see something that um needsthe type of leadership and
experience and the things thatuh I've been able to do through

(01:40):
my my career, it's uh it's time.
It's it's time for Garden City,and and I'm ready to step up.

SPEAKER_03 (01:46):
Let's uh I've known you for a long time.
You've been you're you're uhyou're kind of a natural born
leader.
I mean, I think the first time Imet with you is when we were on
the United Wayboard with Nora.

SPEAKER_00 (01:57):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (01:57):
How many years ago was that?

SPEAKER_00 (01:58):
That had to be pushing 20.

SPEAKER_03 (02:01):
20 years ago.

SPEAKER_00 (02:01):
Yeah, probably.

SPEAKER_03 (02:03):
But I remember, and I know this might and I've never
probably told you this, but Iremember going to those first
couple of meetings, and like itwas a night, it was a great
group of people.
Jeff Taylor was on there.
Who was the guy that was thestatesman guy?
The Idaho Statesman.

SPEAKER_02 (02:17):
Mike Jung.

SPEAKER_03 (02:17):
Mike Jung was on there, great guy.
Um trying to think who else.
It was a really good group ofleaders.
And I was, you know, it's 20years ago, and so I was pretty
impressionable about who's, youknow, who's who's what.
But you stood out kind of evenon that board as like the voice
of, you know, the community, andjust you've just been a
tremendous leader.
So where does that come from?
Tell us a little bit aboutMolly.

SPEAKER_00 (02:39):
You know, I I talk a lot about accidental leadership
and how that's shown up for methroughout my career.
Um, you know, it's it's beingthe person in the room when
something needs to get done, andyou kind of look around and you
realize, wait a minute, I'm theonly person raising my hand to
help be a part of the solution.
And so I've I've had a lot ofthose opportunities that have
presented themselves to me, andand I've been willing to a lot

(03:03):
of times, you know, jump in andjust have faith that I'm gonna
figure out how to get it done,and also have faith that I know
that there's gonna be a lot ofpeople that'll be helping along
the way.
I can remember back um one ofthe first boards I was ever on,
it was the Boys and Girls Clubof Niampa.
And it was during a time oftremendous financial turmoil at

(03:25):
the Niampa School District, andthey were canceling busing from
the schools to the club, and itwas, you know, gonna be
catastrophic for kids thatreally depended upon um that
that after-school program, buteven more so that community that
a boys and girls club canprovide.
And so I showed up as a boardmember to a board, uh, a school

(03:48):
district uh board meeting, andthat was my first entree into
having any visibility aroundschool districts and school
funding.
Um I can fast forward, there'sactually lots of funny stories
as it pertains to that wholeexperience.
Um but I found myself serving onthe Financial Recommendation
Committee, having to vote onactually closing a school that

(04:10):
my kids went to.
And that was a really, reallytough decision, but it was a
decision that made sense for thedistrict.
We had a brand new school justaround the corner that, you
know, it made sense financially,but it also made sense where
we're bringing people togetherin uh in a new way.
But that was that was a reallyhard decision.

(04:31):
And I think when I think aboutleadership, it's showing up for
those decisions when they needto be made with others in mind,
and sure enough, everyone,everyone was just okay, ended up
then leading their bond and levycampaigns.
And, you know, I'd never donethat before.

SPEAKER_03 (04:48):
That's hard.

SPEAKER_00 (04:49):
But I had people I could call and say, help me
learn what I need to know.
And they did.
And we won um both the bond andlevy campaigns, which helped
retain teachers' positions,helped retain and uh, you know,
bring back funding to the schooldistrict, and then chaired the
superintendent search.
You can see how that kind ofgoes, right?

(05:09):
Where you show up for somethingthat you really care about, and
then all of a sudden you findyourself in that seat of um just
needing to keep you know movingthe ball forward, and I think
also being a servant leader iscreating other leaders uh around
you.
So you can pass the baton too.

SPEAKER_03 (05:25):
Was what were you were you attracted to stuff like
this growing up?
Was it always something you didas a child and as a teenager?

SPEAKER_00 (05:34):
You know, um, I kind of joke, but this is true.
In in junior high, I was in anorganization called Future
Problem Solvers of America.
I remember that.
And you know, I couldn't tellyou any of the the direct
projects that we worked on aspart of the competition, but I
think it's always been a part ofthe fabric of who I am.

(05:56):
Um you know, I truly believe,and I I've said this a lot
during this campaign period,you're either going to be a part
of the solution or you're gonnabe a part of the problem.
There is no in-between.

SPEAKER_03 (06:09):
Yeah, that's really well really well put.
Have you always been confidentum in your abilities?
Uh where do you where do youlie?

SPEAKER_00 (06:25):
That's a good question.
I think, you know, uh innate ashumans, we always have that um
lingering insecurity that creepsup.
And I think um for me, it's beenthe ability to to just push that
back into the corner and say,you know what, I'm not doing
anything that I've been involvedin, it's not been for my own
ego, it's been for somethinggreater than me.

(06:46):
I just happen to be the vesselor the vehicle to to help move
that forward.
And that helps me to uh notthink about all of those little
things that keep you up atnight.

SPEAKER_03 (06:57):
Yeah.
It's also I think prettyhealthy.
It's interesting.
Just this morning I waslistening to I get up and listen
to a podcast when I work out andI I do my cold plunge every
morning.
But uh what this morning I I waslistening to Lionel Richie who
was on a podcast and um and I Ididn't expect to hear what I
heard, but he was talking, and Ilistened to it for most of it

(07:18):
this morning, that that it thathis it's always about forward.
It's always about it's neverabout like ever stopping.
And it's just like how do I howdo I be part of a solution?
And if I'm he said that his dadsaid if it you know leadership
is defined uh in those momentswhere you either take a a step
forward or a step back.
And if you think about most ofthe times in our life, it's am I

(07:40):
gonna take a step forward or astep back?
And I think I'm around people,and I would describe you as one
of those that it's always a stepforward.
It's always, hey, let's go dothis, let's go figure this out,
let's go take that step forward,even if even if the path might
be a little unknown.

SPEAKER_00 (07:57):
Yeah.
Well, I I appreciate you sayingthat.
And you know, when you firstsaid Lionel Richie, I was
thinking it was going to be areference of dancing on the
ceiling, but you know, takingthat that step forward is is
definitely um you know part ofbeing a part of a solution.

SPEAKER_02 (08:13):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (08:14):
The world is moving so fast.
Yeah.
I had an opportunity at one ofour College of Western Idaho
events um where we had afuturist come and speak to us.
And he shared that in this verymoment the world will never be
working at this same pace astoday.
It's constantly going to bemoving faster and faster.

(08:37):
And I think that really um, youknow, helps illustrate why we
can't be stagnant.
You know, people don't wantchange.
Something about the way thatthat we're wired, most people
don't want change.
But what they don't realize isthe only constant in this world
is change.
And so we can either embracethat, I think, you know,

(08:59):
especially as it pertains toGarden City, we know change is
happening so rapidly.
It's happening around us.
You know, we're four squaremiles, we're the only landlocked
city in the valley.
Change is absolutely happeningaround us, but it's happening
within us as well.
And I think there's those thosemoments that you really have to
pause and understand what arethe high impact, vital few

(09:21):
things that we really need tohold dear in each of our unique
communities across the footprintof Garden City.
So that as change happens, itdoesn't disrupt those things
that are uh are the most valued.
We can retain a lot of those, wecan preserve those things while
also embracing the change that'scoming at us.

SPEAKER_03 (09:43):
That's awesome.
Uh let's let's go to GardenCity, this mayor run.
Yeah.
I mean, so a couple a couplethings before we get there.
So, business leader, you've hadlots of successes in business,
you've always been part ofboards.
You have been an electedofficial because you're a
trustee at the College ofWestern Idaho.
I think you've been two termsthere.

SPEAKER_00 (10:03):
Elected twice to the board and then two terms as
board chair.

SPEAKER_03 (10:07):
Yeah, two terms as board chair.
So you've you've you'veexperienced elections, you've
experienced public service andand service, that servant's
heart.
Yeah.
And then uh, and now this willbe this'll be uh uh something
new running for the mayor ofGarden City.
Um when you told me, I'm justlike, let's go.
This makes all the sense in theworld.
Um let's talk a little bit aboutGarden City.

(10:29):
Uh so four square miles.

SPEAKER_01 (10:31):
Yep.

SPEAKER_03 (10:32):
Um I I lived um right on the border of Garden
City for 20 plus years, and mychurch went down into our
boundary went down into GardenCity.
Wonderful, wonderful people.
Like some of the greatest peopleI've known on the planet Earth
um live and live there in GardenCity and good good friends of

(10:54):
mine to this day.
Um, then the second thing I'lltell you is because of where I
lived and because I worked atSt.
Luke's forever, I drove down Iwas that's that's my route,
right?
So I think most people knowGarden City because they drive
through it.
Right.
But if you look at the bordersof Garden City and the river and
the river frontage and theindustry and the exposure to

(11:16):
traffic and just because of theway traffic patterns flow,
right, its potential has alwaysbeen through the roof.

SPEAKER_00 (11:23):
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 (11:23):
I mean, I I mean it just has been because of it's
got all the elements.
It's got the river, it's gottraffic that's not going to
bypass it, it's got industry,yeah, and it's sitting and it's
got great people.
So um talk about your uhconnection and and and kind of
where it is and what you see forthe future.

SPEAKER_00 (11:41):
You know, I think um all of the things that that you
just said, Tommy, plus lookingat right now it's such a
poignant moment for Garden City.
We've got some really excitingthings that are are coming up.
First ever professional sportsteam in Idaho.
We've got the the soccer clubthat's gonna be kicking off with
their first match in March.

(12:03):
We've got the um sports park atExpo Idaho.
There is going to be even moreof an influx of people that are
traveling to Garden City.
A lot of people traversethrough, but they're traveling
to.
And when I think about um verysimilarly, over in Caldwell,

(12:23):
when former President Henbergbrought back football to the
College of Idaho, how thatinfused so much energy and um
visibility and helped reallyspur what we see now as Indian
Creek and the development that'sgrown there.
Really helped create them, thethe pathway for Caldwell to

(12:45):
being a destination city.

SPEAKER_03 (12:47):
Well, and you had a little guy named Garrett
Nancolis, who was the mayor for24 years, and that guy is a
legend, yeah, visionary, uh tookthe arrows to say, no, we're
gonna do this, right?
So you had things aligning withsome leadership, right?
That really transformed things.
So uh I think that's a greatanalogy.
I hadn't thought about that, butyou think about what happened

(13:08):
there, and now you go, uh, ifyou went to down, uh we we did
pro we did that theater indowntown Caldwell.
And when we did that, there wasnot anything much around.
I mean, they had they had theyhad put in the river, but it's
you I we go down there now.
Uh in fact, it's coming up.
We go there every holiday and goout there a lot.
We still do business a lot ofbusiness out of Caldwell, and it

(13:29):
is incredible.
Yeah.
What's happened.

SPEAKER_00 (13:31):
Yeah.
You know, and and their abilityto leverage a lot of the
different resources that areavailable to a city, urban
renewal being one of those, Ithink that's gonna be critically
important.
Um, I think there's also anopportunity to pursue whether an
opportunity zone makes sense inGarden City.
You know, we know that there's alot that's gonna be changing

(13:53):
there at the fairgrounds withAda County.
Um I've been meeting with countycommissioners, you know, just to
build that rapport, kind ofbuild that ideation around what
could it look like if GardenCity and Ada County were to work
together to create somethingreally cool.

SPEAKER_03 (14:10):
I mean, you've got the baseball stadium, right?
You've got the soccer stadiumnow, you've got land, you've got
parks, you've got the river, andyou've got a very, very even
even with people coming andgoing from it, if you just took
like the three to five five miledemographics, right?
You have tons of rooftopsalready.
And you kind of have uh we well,there's history here, because

(14:33):
for 20 there's there's projectsthat I've successfully been able
to figure out, and there's onesthat I haven't.
We spent a significant part ofour lives trying to redevelop
this site.
We we've got plans on top ofplans.
It reminds me of the site we'resitting on today, because we're
we're sitting here recordingthis at where Top Golf is.

SPEAKER_02 (14:51):
Right.

SPEAKER_03 (14:52):
I made three different runs of this over 18
years before we finally got it.
And if you look back at theplans that we've had and what
will finally end up happening,but but we as a developer, um
there is tremendous, tremendousopportunity if done right,
right, to develop uh uhentertainment district that
could that could really rivalanything else in the state if

(15:14):
done right, um, down at Glenwoodand and Chinden.

SPEAKER_01 (15:19):
Yep.

SPEAKER_03 (15:20):
Um and it's it it could be incredible.
And I think with what thecounty's doing, and I've spent a
lot of time with a couple oftheir commissioners talking
about this, but I'm really proudof the leadership they've been
able to do to tackle that parkand put it in, what they did to
do the stadium, put it in.
I mean, those are two big footforward.
But if it was in conjunctionwith Garden City and some
leadership, watch out.

SPEAKER_00 (15:41):
They, you know, uh in my conversations with the
commissioners, they're a verygrowth mindset in you know, not
one set agenda of what they wantthat space to look like, but
really open to what it can be.
And that's where I think it's areally critical moment in time.
Um, from a collaborationstandpoint.
There's a private group that'salso done a feasibility study

(16:03):
around a pedestrian bridge overShinden at Glenwood and how that
can move people in thatdirection, especially in
preparation for what we alreadyknow is coming.
We've got to find a way to movepeople north-south over Shinden.
It's gonna have to be a creativetype of a strategy, um, and and
it's impressive, but it's gonnatake leadership.

(16:26):
Yeah.
And then if you go even east ofthere, and if you've been, you
know, down by the river, um,where all of the the really
exciting, you know, by theWhitewater Park and a lot of the
development that's happenedalong the river right there, but
we still have a lot of um, youknow, aging uh pockets.
Potential.

(16:46):
A lot of potential, but I thinkalso, and this really goes back
to a lot of the work that thatwe've done, and you know, for 25
years, I was the vice presidentof government and community
relations over five states atWalls Fargo.
So I did a lot of work helpingto understand um how communities
can really thrive and some ofthe pitfalls that, you know,

(17:07):
with with growth, you kind of uhthere's unintended impacts that
have to be solved for as well.
And when I think about thepotential for the risk of
gentrification, especially onthe East End, and there are
people that have lived in GardenCity for generations that um,
you know, they want to be, theywant to be a part of Garden
City, but that's where we've gotto work with our local

(17:28):
residential developers andbuilders to identify ways that
we can create mixed incomehousing and you know, other
really creative solutions.
There's a lot of programs thatare out there that the city can
tap into that that we reallyhaven't yet.
Things that I think would helppromote and provide incentives

(17:49):
for residential developers tothink of really creative ways
that they continue to build outthose those areas of Garden City
and especially some of the parkpocket communities that can be
created.

SPEAKER_03 (18:02):
I love that.
I love that.
And I think uh, you know,sometimes um you think about
development, um, because we'redoing the big CWI project just
down the river.
You think about the Green Belt,you think about the river.
And sometimes maybe it's toophilosophical for me, but I
think about you know, this um wethink of development as of

(18:25):
what's happened since the 70s, alot of times.
But but in in reality, you know,this land, that river, th this
high desert plain next to thesemountains was here long before
it was settled and taken awayfrom the people that used to
live here.

SPEAKER_00 (18:42):
Right.

SPEAKER_03 (18:42):
And and and it what what it is and what it'll become
and what it'll be for the nexthundred years, when you start
thinking in in longer context,it's really important work
because it's people's lives,it's their it's their
livelihood, and it's it's howare you going to be a steward of
this piece of land as itdevelops and grows.
And and I like thinking aboutthat sometimes.

(19:04):
That's why even the CWI project,like this thing that's gonna put
here and embrace this riverthat's been here for you know
hundreds of thousands, millionsof years that we're now putting
something by, right?
You know, this is like now ourchance to honor that and make
this thing work.
And and the fact that GardenCity has that river from kind of
stem to stern through the wholething, what a blessing.

(19:26):
And it gives you the opportunityto say, okay, what what can it
be?
What has it been?
What can it be now?
And what it's its potential inthe future, and what are the
tools and ways the city can helpshape that future?
That's big stuff.

SPEAKER_00 (19:38):
I think it's both an opportunity as well as a
responsibility of ourleadership, you know, to be
thinking um for Garden City in away that's broader than just the
constraints of our our cityboundaries.
It's gotta be working with theother city leaders and you know,
and Boise and Eagle and all thesurrounding communities.
It's going to requireinteragency uh uh partnership.

(20:02):
Um, you know, Green Belt, one ofthe greatest assets that Garden
City has.
And I absolutely love ourgreenbelt.
But there's there's you knowpain points that are known.

SPEAKER_03 (20:13):
I got I got roped into a pain point recently.
So I don't know how I get ropedinto this.
I get I just got a call andthey're like, hey, it was Judy
P.
V Dr who called me.
And she's like, hey, there's wegot a problem with greenbelt,
and you're gonna help me fix it.
And I said, Hey Judy, like I'dlove to help you, but why are
you calling me?
Anyway, there's a part where itcomes down just before it gets

(20:34):
to where the new ballpark andthe park will be.

SPEAKER_02 (20:36):
Okay.

SPEAKER_03 (20:36):
And there was a bridge.
They had a two million dollar,um, two million dollar grant to
put the bridge from one sideover to an island to to kind of
bypass this whole thing.
Well, the grant was wellintended, but the the bid for
the bridge was like six millionbucks.
So she's like, You're gonna helpme figure out a way to get
around this.
And so I said, Okay, I'll try.

(20:57):
Well, I called some of theproperty owners that I knew to
see if I could help.
And when when they told me, uh,hey buddy, take a hike, right?
Uh anyway, I think the county'sgonna step up.
But your point is there's stillwork to be done on connectivity
and making that what it can befor families that that I mean,
what a treasure we have.

SPEAKER_00 (21:17):
Right.
Yeah.
We and I've met with that grouptoo, so very well versed in in
that project and you know, andand our focus on active
transportation as well.
You know, right now we utilizethe green belt for commuting.
Yeah.
We really need to create more ofan active transportation
corridor, whether that's downAdams Street, whether it somehow

(21:39):
incorporates, you know, umcloser to Shinda.
We we we just need to findadditional avenues.
I've ridden my bike to work, andI'm you know, my office is
downtown at 13th and Bannock,and I've ridden my bike a a few
times, and it's great until youhit Whitewater, and then you got
to find your way over todowntown.
So I know that there's stillsome work to be done on on both
sides of the river.

(22:00):
But there are people thatabsolutely love the ability to
bike to work.

SPEAKER_01 (22:05):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (22:06):
And I think we can really embrace that as well.
You know, you talked about uhthe Whitewater Project, and I
think one of the things thathelped us as an elected board
where we've got to represent ourresponsibility is to represent
our taxpayers and ourstakeholders.
We needed to have theinformation that could really

(22:26):
help us understand how to buildthat North Star around what what
was needed most for the college.
And, you know, one of the thingsthat I did as chair of the board
was to commission a visioningprocess.
And that helped the boardthrough that process to be able
to make the subsequent decisionsthat came ahead of us, including
as we went through the RFPprocess for the design build.

(22:50):
And, you know, it was soimportant to us as a committee,
and I chaired that committee, soimportant to us that we
partnered with an entity thatunderstood not just a
plug-and-play of what could bein that, you know, that
footprint, but really anunderstanding of the
responsibility to ensure that wewere creating um an environment

(23:12):
that provided that connectivitywith the infrastructure that was
already there.

SPEAKER_01 (23:17):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (23:17):
The original intent, you know, how do we ensure that
we um complement instead of uhdisrupt how the green belt in
that area is being used and howit can being can be used.
And you know, through thatprocess, that's where where we
get to work together on on theWhitewater project.
And I think it's gonna be suchan important part of our

(23:38):
community from a businesscommunity perspective as well as
broader community and for ourstudents and learning in the
corridor to downtown.
I mean, I could go on and onabout how proud I am of that
project and and what we'rebuilding for the community in a
variety of ways.
I think that same type of avisioning process needs to take
place in Garden City.

(23:59):
I love that.
We need to understand what arethose things that we need to
preserve, but we also need to belooking a lot more broadly than
just a plug and play within afootprint, especially as I think
about the East End and south ofShinden.
There are things that we can bedoing as leaders to ensure that
we complement broader needs ofthe city in the ways that we uh

(24:21):
partner with our developers.
So, for example, public safetybeing one of those.
And we know that one of thegreatest assets to a community
is public parks, not only from arecreation standpoint, but also
a safety standpoint.
Um, it prevents um, in a lot ofways, it prevents uh uh pockets

(24:44):
of um violent and and sexualoffenders from living near a
park.
Neighborhoods need parks for somany different reasons.
So when I think about on theEast End, it's gonna be not just
creating mixed income housing ina thoughtful way, but it's also
going to be encouraging andfinding solutions for pocket
parks.
And as I've met with residentialdevelopers that are over in that

(25:07):
area, they're all for it.

SPEAKER_03 (25:09):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (25:09):
They're for coming up with those creative.

SPEAKER_03 (25:11):
Yeah, everyone's interests should align, right?
Right.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (25:14):
So it's got to be, you know, more than just some of
the zoning codes.
And um Tommy, I have foundmyself on like, who am I right
now?
I have downloaded an audio bookon zoning codes.
That's what I'm listening todaily.
You know, you talked about yourpodcast you're listening to
while you're working out.

SPEAKER_03 (25:29):
Hey, let me give you some advice, unsolicited advice.
You know, the Hippocratic Oathin medicine, first do no harm.
I think cities sometimes they'reso well intended.
I'm never gonna question theirintentions.

SPEAKER_02 (25:42):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (25:43):
But first do no harm, man.
Because they can mess stuff upquicker than it's it's a it's an
interesting thing.
And the zoning codes, um i theycan get complicated because you
have these comprehensive plansthat are done 10, 20, sometimes
30 years before.

SPEAKER_00 (25:59):
Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 (26:00):
You have an underlying zoning code and plan.
Then you have the current codethat goes on top of it, and
sometimes it takes literallyattorneys to figure out, hey,
you know, we can put a parkinglot here, we can't put it here,
we can face this here, and itjust gets and and I think
despite intentions that may begood, it just sometimes these
things get it's getting harder.

SPEAKER_01 (26:21):
Yep.

SPEAKER_03 (26:22):
I think layers and layers of stuff on top of it,
but you'll do great because youunderstand business.

SPEAKER_00 (26:27):
True.
And I understand how toidentify, okay, these are our
constraints.
Good.
Okay.

SPEAKER_01 (26:35):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (26:35):
What are the things we can do?

SPEAKER_03 (26:37):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (26:37):
And and bring people to the table around those big
ideas.

SPEAKER_03 (26:41):
Hey, how's campaigning been?

SPEAKER_00 (26:43):
Oh, it's a slog.
You know, I mean, this is mythird campaign.
Um you you talked about the, youknow, confidence and and
self-doubt.
And I think I'd somebody wouldhave to be lying if they
campaigned without some levelof, you know, am I doing this
right?
Am I spending my time the bestway?
Am I working with my campaignteam to ensure that we're

(27:03):
maximizing dollars?
It's a great responsibility tothose that support you, but also
to the mission in mind.

SPEAKER_03 (27:11):
It's so hard.

SPEAKER_00 (27:12):
It's hard.

SPEAKER_03 (27:13):
It's so hard.
And and you feel uh what youjust described, I uh, you know,
done it once and lost, tookthird.

SPEAKER_01 (27:20):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (27:20):
Uh but um you feel such an obligation.
It's different than because youhave people that support you and
they're they're giving you theirmoney and they're giving you
their time, they're volunteeringfor you, they're making calls,
and the connection with thosepeople and the you don't want to
let them down.
I remember when uh I I wasgetting some advice from Mitt
Romney before I ran, and uh, hesaid a couple things.

(27:43):
He's like, hey, never never besurprised to disappoint you once
you announce to run.
That was one.
And then two, he's like, youwon't understand the feeling of
losing until you lose becauseit's a it's you don't it's it's
not like any other it's not likeany other thing you've done in
in your life because that thatresponsibility is so real.

(28:05):
And then you're like, I cannotlet these people down.
I want to win, but I can't letthese people down.
So um the pressure's good.
Um uh it's also it's also hard.
You're listening to consultantsand your gut's telling you one
thing, they're telling youanother thing.

SPEAKER_00 (28:20):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 (28:20):
You know, I I wish that that was the hardest part
for me.

SPEAKER_00 (28:23):
Well, and that's because you're a servant leader
too.
You're you're doing it on behalfof what you know is right and
and for other people.
And we wear that on our ourshoulders really heavily.

SPEAKER_03 (28:33):
Some of the hardest conversations I ever had was,
hey, this is what we need you todo.
And I'm like, well, that's notwhat I'm feeling.
I'm knocking doors.
That's not what I'm hearing.
And they're like, we don't care.
And and you're like, well, soit's it's uh you learn a lot.
You learn a lot about yourself.
I'll tell you that feeling ofwaking up every morning and just
like, here we go again, here wego again, here we go again.
It's good for you.
Make you tough.

SPEAKER_00 (28:54):
Yeah.
I definitely have thicker skinthis go round, I'll tell you
that.
I think you I think you've gotto.
Very different.

SPEAKER_03 (29:01):
Yeah, because you had uh, you know, you had the
the CWI board is still aprocess, but yeah, this is
probably a little moreemotional.
And you're taking on kind of anestablishment, I'm sure.
It's that's that's why that'swhy I that's why I love you
doing this.
I mean, I think in government,here's my criteria.
We need really, really goodpeople that are smart and have
servants' hearts.
You got that in spades.

(29:22):
Secondly, it really helps tohave free market people that
understand business that go intogovernment because I think they
act differently.
I think I think when when youreally understand what it takes
to make things happen, um, andthen are you a person that steps
forward and leads?
Um, I'm uh you got all that.

SPEAKER_00 (29:42):
Yeah.
You know, I I uh I appreciatethat.
I'll I'll tell you as I'm doorknocking, that's been one of the
best things.
You know, when I have run mylast two campaigns, it's across
two counties, Ada and KenyonCounty.
It's a very different way ofcampaigning, and I have
absolutely I absolutely lovedevery opportunity to have

(30:02):
conversations with residents inGarden City.
I think that's been one of thebest parts of the campaign.
And they're wonderful people, Iwould say 99.9% of the time
outdoor knocking.
People are so, so gracious, sothankful that a candidate takes
time to actually, you know, beout there and have those
conversations.
And I've done something maybesome people might think is a

(30:24):
little bit crazy, but I'vehandwritten my phone number on
each of the palm cards I leave.

SPEAKER_03 (30:28):
Oh, wow.
And I say you're getting calls?

SPEAKER_00 (30:30):
Yeah.
And I've said, you know, if youhave questions that you think of
later, because a lot of timesthey're on the spot and they're,
you know, thinking, oh, I wasn'texpecting to be asked about, you
know, what are my biggestpriorities in in Garden City.
And I said, if you've gotquestions later, or as you're
talking to any neighbors, ifthey have questions, feel free
to give me a call, share mycontact information.
I welcome any and allconversations.

(30:52):
And I've had some reallyengaging, thoughtful
conversations with people thathave reached out after the fact,
or that I have left my palm cardwith a little note, you know,
hey, we'd love to connect.
Here's my phone number.
And that's that's been great.
You know, our our mayor now hasbeen in office for nearly 20
years in Garden City.
So for a lot of people, I'veI've heard two things.

(31:14):
People have said, we have a wehave a mayor in Garden City.
People don't realize that,right?
Yes, we have we have a full uhmunicipal government and offices
and and people that work really,really hard on behalf of the
city.
But people are also, you know,surprised that um that the mayor
is is retiring and you know,he's done a great job in a

(31:36):
number of um so many differentways.
We are one of the, if not themost uh well-run city from a
fiscal standpoint.
That's something that's gonna bereally, really important to
continue on.
Um but uh you know, I think I'vegot a very different leadership
style than um than a lot ofpeople have.

(31:57):
And I'm I'm somebody that it'sokay, what do we need to get
done and when do we need to getit done?
But it's also a lot more umbroad thinking around what are
the things we haven't thought ofor what are the unintended
consequences of this potentialdecision.
And the way that I lead a boardand the way that I would I would
help lead council is to ensurethat we've got we're really

(32:19):
leveraging the leadership fromacross the council and that
they're they've got input on theagendas and they've got input on
city initiatives, and let'sreally lead out on having a
growth mindset in the ways thatwe will be engaging with our
residents and the ways that wewill be engaging with our
businesses in a very differentway than I think Garden City has
experienced before.

(32:41):
So I'm really excited aboutthat, and people are very
receptive to the idea of umdeeper engagement and and you
know bringing forums to theirlocal neighborhoods.

SPEAKER_03 (32:52):
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
And you're on an off-cycleelection.
What are they what do they thinkthe voting universe, what's the
turnout gonna be?

SPEAKER_00 (32:59):
You know, off-cycle elections are always really
difficult.
Um we've looked at data from thepast to off-cycle elections,
which for me I'm typically on agubernatorial ballot, the last
two that I've been on.
So it's a very different uhvoter demographic um altogether.
Uh, you know, I've last campaignum was able to earn over 85,000

(33:23):
votes.
In Garden City, I need to earnat least 4,000 votes.
It's a very different, you know,very targeted.
As many conversations as I canhave with people is is
beneficial.

SPEAKER_03 (33:37):
That's work ethic and that's just getting out.
And and and um isn't it nicethat we live in a community
where you've got people that arejust, yeah, I'm here, here's my
cell phone number.
Call me, I'll tell you what Ithink, get to know me.
Um that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 (33:51):
Yeah, you know, in Garden City, it's so special.
Um I've I've lived there before.
I I moved back a couple yearsago, just absolutely love um
love the city, love uh so manyof our different areas that are
our, you know, East End isdifferent.
We our East Enders have havenamed themselves the East End.

(34:12):
Where I live, I'm over on theWest End.
We don't even call each callourselves the West End.
Then you've got South ofShinden, I've heard Sochi being
something that's that's thrownout lately.
And then you've got north of theriver, which is largely river
club and plantation neighborhoodand um you know along the the um
neighborhood, Riverside Village,there's a little bit of that
north as well.

(34:32):
And we don't really have anadopted or shared nomenclature
for who we are collectively as acity or even within each of the
um neighborhood pockets.
And I think there's a hugeopportunity for that as we
really look at who we are andwho we want to become.
Um, you know, it's it's such aspecial place over on the West

(34:52):
End.
And um, my husband's family hasbeen on that property for over
50 years, and so definitely deeproots over there.
You know, we can walk to theGreen Belt in a minute and a
half.
I can drive to downtown in 13,downtown Boise in 13 minutes.
I'm over in Eagle in sixminutes.
It's uh we're right in themiddle of so much happening here

(35:13):
in the valley.

SPEAKER_03 (35:14):
Yeah, you you talk about like infill, whatever you
do there.
It's the perfect use ofresources, perfect use of of of
existing transportation lines.
I mean, there's just like thesky's the limit.
And as everything enclosesaround, and I mean Garden City
is there's all that there's aton of potential.
Yep.
And then there's probably thecare of saying, how do we grow

(35:35):
right and how do we take care ofthe people that have been here
for a long time and all that.
So that's what I love about umuh what you're doing.
So for people listening outthere, it's 4,000 votes.
If you know anyone in GardenCity, you better tell them to
vote for Molly Lenty.

SPEAKER_00 (35:50):
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 (35:51):
Right?
Yep.
And um so you've got what what'stoday?
You got a month left.

SPEAKER_00 (35:57):
I do.

SPEAKER_03 (35:58):
This is crunch time.

SPEAKER_00 (35:59):
The clock is ticking.
Yeah, I'm out there just aboutevery night.
If I don't have an event thatthat I'm attending, I'm out
knocking doors, I'm out there onSaturday.
We have uh a really fun littlegolf cart that that we put
together that's got, you know,American flag.
It was had already had alreadybeen in the family and and um
added my campaign signage to it.
So if you see me out in aneighborhood, stop you.

(36:21):
You know, it's not we we can'twe want to trailer it into a
neighborhood, but I can it'sbeen great as I've been going
door to door.

SPEAKER_03 (36:26):
Let's get all the information out.
So your website is MollyLenty.com.
Wow.
Was it available?

SPEAKER_00 (36:33):
I've had it a little while.

SPEAKER_03 (36:34):
That's awesome.
Molly Lenty.com, uh Molly forMayor, uh probably places you
can go volunteer.

SPEAKER_00 (36:41):
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 (36:42):
Uh right on your website.
I know there's a place to godonate if you want to donate.
Um I really look forward to youwinning this thing.
Thank you.
And uh it I can I can just I Ican just picture, you know,
sometimes when you think aboutvision and what's gonna happen,
but I just can picture youinteracting with the other
mayors, really pulling GardenCity into that, uh conversation

(37:04):
and watching what you do overtime.
Uh this could be it's it wasit's easy to uh help you.
It's easy to serve as yourtreasurer, it's easy to tell
everyone I know, hey, go votefor Molly, because um I know
your heart.

SPEAKER_01 (37:17):
Yeah, well thank you.

SPEAKER_03 (37:18):
I mean, uh I've known you a long time in a lot
of different capacities incommunity leadership and
service.
And I think what we talk aboutall the time, it's easy to talk
about.
Hey, we need really good peopleto serve in in in in government,
right?
We we say that all the time.
Right.
But then when you have someonethat is that really good people,
like it's the shining example ofthat person that has spent her

(37:40):
entire life serving in multiplecapacities with every nonprofit
you can think of in the valleyand loves this place, saying,
Okay, I'm ready to go do moresignificant civic service as the
mayor of Garden City.
Uh nothing's been an easierthing for me than saying, let's
let's go do let's go win thisthing.
So um, for anyone listening outthere uh that doesn't know

(38:00):
Molly, go to our website.
I'm sure you've got eventscoming up, ways they can meet
you.
And if you know anyone in GardenCity, tell them to get out and
vote, right?
I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00 (38:07):
Absolutely.
You know, there is so much tolook forward to in Garden City,
and I can't wait to be thererunning alongside and and other
leaders that are so passionateabout the city and the community
that is is being built up.

SPEAKER_03 (38:21):
Awesome.
Thanks for coming on today.

SPEAKER_00 (38:22):
Thank you.
Thanks, everybody.
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.