Boise City Ethics Commission appoints employee commissioner, elects chair and vice chair

Boise City — The Boise City Ethics Commission on May 8 approved the appointment of Matthew Tock as the commission’s city employee member, elected Commissioner Luke Howarth as chair and Commissioner Church as vice chair, and approved minutes from the commission’s Feb. 6, 2025 special meeting.

The Human Resources office told the commission it reviewed eight internal applicants after the departure of Addison King, who served three consecutive two-year terms as the employee commissioner. HR said the mayor’s office earlier appointed Josh Hurwit to fill the seat vacated by longtime commissioner Tony Rourke and that the City Council reappointed Commissioner Luke Howarth to a term ending in February 2029.

HR staff (Patrick) recommended appointing Matthew Tock, who works for the Parks and Recreation Department on the Ridge to Rivers program. The commission then moved to appoint Tock; a roll-call vote recorded named ayes and the chair declared the motion carried. After the vote, Tock said he is new to the commission but hopes to bring the same commitment to “honesty and integrity” he applies to trail maintenance work. He also noted he is a recent new father.

The commission then took up elections for its open leadership positions. Commissioner Luke Howarth was nominated and elected chair. Commissioners then nominated and elected Commissioner Church as vice chair; Church abstained from the vice-chair vote. The chair and vice-chair votes were recorded by roll call and declared carried by the presiding commissioner.

On administrative business, the commission voted to approve the minutes of its Feb. 6, 2025 special meeting. The minutes vote was recorded as two in favor and two abstentions; the presiding commissioner announced the motion carried.

HR also reported two recent items in the commission inbox. One was a citizen’s potential request for inquiry that staff found deficient: the submission covered two individuals on a single form and lacked facts sufficient to state a claim, and staff asked the citizen to provide separate forms and additional evidence. The second was an employee question about an intended vendor donation to Friends of Zoo Boise; based on the facts presented, HR determined the matter did not implicate the city’s ethics code and no advisory opinion was requested.

With no further substantive business, the commission moved, voted and adjourned.