A newly elected Idaho mayor collapsed and died while speaking at a town hall meeting on Wednesday evening, despite desperate life-saving efforts by a fellow mayor who rushed to perform CPR.
Rick Hogaboam, 47, suffered a medical emergency around 6:45 p.m. during a Treasure Valley Partnership town hall meeting at Eagle City Hall. The Nampa mayor was mid-speech when he began slurring his words and suddenly collapsed in front of shocked colleagues and community members.
Eagle mayor Brad Pike, a former firefighter sitting to Hogaboam’s right, immediately sprang into action and began administering CPR. Pike was joined by Eagle’s police chief, who was attending the event. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene, but their efforts could not save him.
After first responders attended to Hogaboam for around an hour, representatives from the Ada County Coroner’s Office arrived. The city announced Hogaboam’s death at 8:40 p.m.
The tragic incident occurred just over two months after Hogaboam took office as Nampa’s 31st mayor. He was sworn in on January 5, 2026 following a decisive victory in the November 2025 election, where he captured 62.9 percent of the vote against three rivals.
The medical emergency also affected Caldwell mayor Eric Phillips, who was present at the town hall. Phillips received medical attention outside the venue and was transported by Ada County Paramedics for what appeared to be a separate medical issue. By Thursday morning, city officials confirmed Phillips was “doing well.”
Pike spoke with reporters outside Eagle City Hall on Wednesday night, reflecting on the harrowing moments. “Good, bad or indifferent, I was the last person in his life that was touching him when he passed,” Pike told KTVB.
The cause of Hogaboam’s death has not been announced and is under investigation.
A Republican father of five, Hogaboam had dedicated years to public service in Nampa and Canyon County. He moved to the Idaho city from western New York in 2008, bringing with him a passion for the Buffalo Bills that he never lost.
Before becoming mayor, Hogaboam served as chief of staff to former mayor Debbie Kling from 2020 to 2023. His public service record also included stints as a city councilman, a substitute Idaho state senator in 2021, and Canyon County clerk where he managed the county’s budget and elections. He was also previously a senior pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa.
Hours before his death, Hogaboam attended a training session with the Nampa Fire Department, later reflecting on the day as “beautiful” in a Facebook post.
Tributes poured in from across Idaho’s political landscape. Governor Brad Little called the loss “heartbreaking,” writing that Hogaboam “served with a real heart for public service and dedication to the community.”
The Idaho GOP praised Hogaboam as “everything we want our political leaders to be.” Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said he was “heartbroken” by the loss, noting they had worked closely together when Hogaboam served as Canyon County Clerk.
Former mayor Debbie Kling, who had publicly endorsed Hogaboam to be her successor, said she was “deeply grieved and saddened” by his passing. She described him as “a talented, smart leader who served with integrity and a servant’s heart.”
The City of Nampa asked residents to keep Hogaboam’s family in their prayers during this trying time. The Treasure Valley Partnership offered its condolences to the family, calling him an outstanding public servant, a devoted family man, and a true friend.
Nampa City Council president David Bills is serving as acting mayor. The city council will appoint an interim mayor to serve until a new mayoral election in November.
Hogaboam leaves behind his wife Mimi, five children and a grandchild.
