Ysursa, Bloem to serve as ‘of counsel’ for Gallatin

IBR Staff//January 12, 2015//

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Retired Secretary of State Ben Ysursa and former Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem have joined Gallatin Public Affairs as ‘of counsel.’

Ysursa, a Republican, served as secretary of state until this year. He had worked for more than 40 years in the office of the secretary of state, and was awarded the fourth Edward and Dottie Stimpson Award for Civic Engagement from the City Club of Boise Dec. 4. He was honored for his life-long commitment to openness and transparency in government. The Fourth District Bar Association awarded Ysursa the Liberty Bell award, for his impartial and fair handling of Idaho elections, on May 1.

Ysursa said his new responsibilities will compliment his involvement in a variety of civic and community organizations, including providing color analysis for radio broadcasts of Bishop Kelly High School Knights athletics.

Bloem was the longest-serving and first woman mayor of Coeur d’Alene, serving from 2002 to 2014. During her leadership, Coeur d’Alene built the most successful Salvation Army Kroc Center in the country, built the first new city library and redesigned McEuen Field.

As a downtown business owner, Bloem remains active in the Coeur d’Alene area. She will continue to serve on the Salvation Army Kroc Advisory Board, Coeur d’Alene Vision 2013 and the North Idaho University Advisory Board.