Sen. Jim Hammond honored for service to Idaho cities

The Association of Idaho Cities honored Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, with the Boyd A. Martin Award at the 65th AIC Annual Conference in Boise last week.

"Jim Hammond is one of the most knowledgeable and respected voices in the Idaho Legislature on issues of importance to cities and is a most worthy recipient of the Martin Award," said AIC Executive Director Ken Harward.

The Boyd A. Martin Award was established by AIC in 1979 to recognize exceptional contributions benefiting the city governments of Idaho. Martin was the chair of the University of Idaho Political Science Department and served as Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences. He was instrumental in forming the Idaho Municipal League, which was later renamed the Association of Idaho Cities.

Hammond began his career in public service as an educator and elementary school principal. He served the City of Post Falls for more than 25 years in several capacities including planning and zoning commissioner, councilman, mayor and city administrator.

Hammond was elected to three terms in the Idaho Senate and currently chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. Earlier this year Hammond announced he would retire after completing his third term.

Hammond also served on the State Board of Education from 1999 to 2004 and was the first chairman of the State Charter School Commission from 2004 to 2006.

AIC was formed in 1947 and is a nonpartisan, nonprofit corporation organized to serve Idaho's 200 incorporated cities.