Priorities & Key Issues

Kody Daffer’s Vision for Nampa

illustration of Old Town Nampa, Idaho showing historic buildings, streets, and local charm

treescape illustrating smart sustainable growth in Nampa, Idaho, featuring green spaces

Fiscal Responsibility & Transparency

Kody believes the city must live within its means, just like families do. He emphasizes transparent spending and ensuring taxpayer dollars go to things that matter, such as roads, public safety, and parks.

He prioritizes maintenance and long-term planning to avoid costly problems in the future. When evaluating new projects, Kody asks whether they deliver real value to residents and how they will impact future budgets. For him, fiscal responsibility isn’t about saying no to everything, it’s about saying yes to the right things.

Kody compares infrastructure to personal responsibility: just as you must maintain a car after purchase, the city must invest in and maintain its assets. His goal is to ensure Nampa’s resources are managed efficiently, transparently, and with accountability, providing real value to the community.

Guided Growth

Kody believes there is a clear difference between rapid growth and guided growth in Nampa. Drawing on his extensive experience in Idaho real estate development, he advocates for growth strategies that keep housing affordable for families while generating the funds necessary to improve streets, utilities, and infrastructure.

Some may talk about “controlled growth,” but Kody emphasizes that the goal is the same: ensuring neighborhoods are supported by roads, schools, and services so families can thrive. The difference is in the approach; guided growth focuses on balancing development with safety, affordability, and quality of life, rather than limiting growth for a slogan.

Kody approaches growth with a long-term perspective, thinking about the next generation rather than the next election cycle. To him, guided growth means planning responsibly for current and future generations, ensuring Nampa remains livable, vibrant, and strong for decades to come.

Other Issues

Raising Taxes

Kody does not enjoy raising taxes, but he recognizes they are sometimes necessary to ensure the city functions effectively. While he does not advocate for tax increases lightly, he acknowledges that public safety, infrastructure, and essential city services require adequate funding. Kody supports raising taxes only when absolutely necessary and is committed to ensuring every dollar is spent wisely, so residents see real value for their investment.

Supporting Small Businesses with Economic Growth

Kody believes small businesses are the heart of Nampa, giving the city its unique character and vibrancy. As a small business owner himself, he understands the challenges entrepreneurs face. While he welcomes the jobs and investment brought by large employers like Amazon and GoGo Squeeze, he stresses the importance of supporting small businesses with grants, streamlined permitting, marketing, and event tie-ins that drive local traffic. His goal is to ensure economic growth is balanced so both large employers and small businesses thrive together.

Kody believes safe neighborhoods are the foundation of a strong city. He supports initiatives that go beyond enforcement, including well-lit streets, good sidewalks, and community programs that keep kids engaged and out of trouble. His goal is to ensure families in Nampa feel safe walking in their neighborhoods, going to school, or enjoying local parks.

Kody is also committed to ensuring Nampa’s police department is properly staffed and resourced. The department is currently short about 25 officers, and while technology helps fill some gaps, long-term solutions require responsible budgeting, recruitment, training, and updated equipment. Kody has personally met with Police Chief Joe Huff to gain firsthand insight into the department’s needs and priorities.

By combining broad neighborhood safety with direct support for first responders, Kody aims to ensure that Nampa remains a safe, vibrant, and family-friendly community.

Public Safety

Residents in Nampa see the strain on the city’s roads as traffic worsens. Kody emphasizes fixing bottlenecks and maintaining existing roads to keep mobility manageable.

With experience as a Land Development Manager and on the Planning and Zoning Commission, he notes that, by state law, new developments can only fund the infrastructure they create. Maintaining existing roads relies on taxes and federal grants.

Kody plans to secure federal resources to improve roads and create safe bike routes and walkable neighborhoods, believing that thoughtful infrastructure planning saves money, reduces congestion, and keeps Nampa livable for families.

Infrastructure

I was a Nampa City Councilman for 16 years and I believe Kody Daffer is well qualified for that position. His understanding of issues serves him well having served already on Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission. The cities strength is a council that works well with city employees and understands the needs of the entire community of citizens.

Growth is inevitable—but requires the wisdom of someone who protects our history, supports local business and understands that infrastructure must keep pace with demand.

The first and foremost need for local government and our City of Nampa is public safety. Police, fire and emergency services have priority. I believe Kody Daffer has the ability and understanding to continue Nampa’s forward progress.

Martin Thorne, former Nampa City Councilman