Hope, Change, Pocatello?

I have to admit that as a Boisean, that I look at local politics as Boise, Nampa, Meridian, and then everywhere else. But still, this story out of Pocatello is pretty amazing.  Liberal blogger d2 over at 43rd State Blues declared of Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase last night:

But Chase is to Pocatello what Bieter has been to Boise – a progressive wonk’s dream: good for business, better for quality of life issues.

Indeed, when I made a post earlier this year asking who the Democrats were going to nominate for Governor, the name of Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase came up. Well, the dream has died as Tara Rowe notes, Mayor Chase went down to a narrow defeat at the hands of political newcomer Brian Blad.

There are no party affiliations as such in Pocatello. For all I know, Blad could be as much a Democrat as Chase, but what was Blad’s platform?:

Prior to the election, Blad had said he would do everything he could to keep taxes down. He also promised to approach the city’s budget the same way he approaches his personal budget: “If I don’t have the money, I don’t spend the money. Sometimes it hurts, but sometimes we have to say ‘no.’”

Fiscal conservatism beats Pocatello’s version Dave Bieter? Be warned Team Dave, 2011 comes sooner than you think.