Spirit Lake mayor, Cd'A councilor elected AIC directors

BOISE — Members of the Association of Idaho Cities elected Moscow Mayor Hailey Lewis as Third President for 2026-2027 during the 79th AIC Annual Conference in Boise held June 10-12.

Coeur d'Alene Councilor Kenny Gabriel and Spirit Lake Mayor Charlene Phipps were elected District 1 directors.

The Association of Idaho Cities was formed in 1947 and is a nonpartisan, nonprofit corporation serving Idaho’s 197 incorporated cities. AIC influences policies and provides education, training and technical assistance to strengthen the ability of city elected officials and staff to serve their communities.

The 2026 Ken Harward Award was given to Leon Duce of the city of Rathdrum.

The Ken Harward Award recognizes exceptional contributions that benefit Idaho and its communities. Harward was the city administrator and finance director of Nampa, Idaho, for 24 years, was also AIC’s longest-serving executive director, and worked tirelessly to build the credibility and effectiveness of AIC.

Duce is an Idaho boy through and through. He was born in Idaho Falls, raised in Kellogg, attended college at Idaho State University in Pocatello and was married in Idaho Falls, a press release said.

He began his career in municipal government in 1995 as an accounting intern with the city of Pocatello. After graduating from Idaho State University in 1997, he joined the Association of Idaho Cities, where he served Idaho’s cities for 19 years.

For the past 10 years, Duce has served as city administrator for the city of Rathdrum with steady leadership during a period of tremendous growth, the release said.

    Leon Duce, Rathdrum City Administrator.