Rathdrum councilman appointed to state board

Steven Adams is that rare elected official who prefers to operate outside the limelight.

The Rathdrum city councilman now finds himself smack in the middle of it.

Adams has been appointed to the board of the Association of Idaho Cities, and his explanation for the prestigious assignment says a lot about the man.

"Nobody else wanted to do the job, so I volunteered," he said.

Adams said he feels a debt to society and he volunteers to serve whenever the opportunities arise.

Adams hails from a long line of Idahoans. His great-great grandfather served as a Blaine County judge and another ancestor as a minister in the Boise/Payette area.

Adams is a combat veteran in the Navy who served during the Vietnam War. Following his time in the military, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science, with a minor in geography. He earned a master’s degree in geography, which became the foundation for his 34-year career with NASA.

His work with NASA focused on Earth’s renewable and non-renewable resources. Adams was responsible for monitoring the atmosphere through the management of two satellite instruments.

Following retirement, Adams chose to return to his roots in Idaho, specifically to Rathdrum.

Serving the people, for Adams, simply runs in his blood.

Adams was sworn in to his newest post during the recent 2021 Annual Convention of AIC, held in Boise. He will serve a two-year term that will coincide with the two-and-a-half years left in his term as a city councilman.

Adams told The Press that his experience at the conference “was wonderful. I learned a lot about how to be a good councilman.” He said he came away with a lot of ideas on how to better serve the community he represents.

Growth and related issues, including highway infrastructure, are high priorities locally, he said. Adams said he aims to find “better ways to get people moving from place to place."

Adams said serving on AIC will help him serve people locally.

“There is a tight line of being a vibrant city balanced against not changing Rathdrum’s way of life," Adams said.

AIC, formed in 1947, represents the geographical districts of Idaho and its 199 cities. Adams said that what AIC does is “push for legislation that’s good for our city, and push against issues that would not be good for our city.”