An Idaho mayor who had recently taken office collapsed and died while speaking at a town hall meeting on the evening of Wednesday, March 18, 2026, despite frantic CPR efforts by another mayor who rushed to help.
Rick Hogaboam, 47, experienced a medical emergency around 6:45 p.m. during a Treasure Valley Partnership town hall at Eagle City Hall. The Nampa mayor was delivering remarks when he began slurring his words and suddenly fell down in front of stunned colleagues and community members.
Eagle Mayor Brad Pike, a former firefighter seated to Hogaboam’s right, immediately responded and began CPR. He was assisted by Eagle’s police chief, who was also present. Police, firefighters, and paramedics arrived and provided care, but they were unable to revive him.
After first responders worked on Hogaboam for about an hour, staff from the Ada County Coroner’s Office arrived. The city announced Hogaboam’s death at 8:40 p.m. On Thursday, the Coroner’s Office said the cause of death was cardiac tamponade, an event where blood or fluid collects in the sac surrounding the heart, and the heart ventricles cannot expand fully. The extra pressure from the fluid prevents the heart from working properly, and the body does not get enough blood.
The tragic incident happened just over two months after Hogaboam was sworn in as Nampa’s 31st mayor. He took office on January 5, 2026, after winning the November 2025 election with 62.9 percent of the vote against three opponents.
Caldwell Mayor Eric Phillips suffered a separate medical issue while at the event. Phillips was treated outside the venue for chest pain and dizziness and transported by Ada County Paramedics for what appeared to be an unrelated condition. City officials said Thursday morning that he was “doing well.”
Pike spoke to reporters outside Eagle City Hall Wednesday night, recounting the intense moments. “Good, bad or indifferent, I was the last person in his life that was touching him when he passed,” Pike told KTVB.
A Republican and father of five, Hogaboam had long served the Nampa and Canyon County communities. He relocated to Nampa from western New York in 2008 and retained a lifelong passion for the Buffalo Bills.
Before becoming mayor, Hogaboam was chief of staff to former Mayor Debbie Kling from 2020 to 2023. His record also included time as a city councilman, a substitute Idaho state senator in 2021, and Canyon County clerk, where he oversaw the county’s budget and elections. He previously served as a senior pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa.
Hours before his death, Hogaboam attended a training with the Nampa Fire Department and later described the day as “beautiful” in a Facebook post.
Messages of condolence came from across Idaho politics. Governor Brad Little called the loss “heartbreaking,” saying Hogaboam “served with a real heart for public service and dedication to the community.”
The Idaho GOP lauded Hogaboam as “everything we want our political leaders to be.” Secretary of State Phil McGrane said he was “heartbroken,” noting his close work with Hogaboam during the latter’s time as Canyon County Clerk.
Former Mayor Kling, who had publicly endorsed Hogaboam as her successor, said she was “deeply grieved and saddened” by his death and called him “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. The Treasure Valley Partnership extended condolences, describing him as an outstanding public servant, devoted family man, and true friend.
Nampa City Council president David Bills is acting mayor. The council will appoint an interim mayor to serve until a new election in November.
Hogaboam is survived by his wife Mimi, their five children, and a grandchild.