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They aren’t the only well-known active individuals in the Basque community running for office in the upcoming elections in the US, but Diana Lachiondo has announced her candidacy for Ada County Commission District Seat 1, along with Aitor Narvaiza who is running for Sheriff in Elko, Nevada.

Boise, ID. Diana Lachiondo  is the current director of Community Partnerships in the city of Boise.  Originally from Boise, she was born 37 years ago in the heart of well-known Basque family.  She is the granddaughter of Julian Lachiondo from Ibarrangelu, and Lydia Gandiaga from Mountain Home, who in turn is the daughter of Basques from Isparter and Markina.  Diana’s parents, Dave and Patty (Smedly), are also active in the Boise community and members and supporters of Basque activities including some of its most recognizable projects in the areas of university and education.  Diana and her sister Alicia grew up in the middle of the Boise Basque community; members of the Euzkaldunak Basque club and are former Oinkari Basque dancers. They both participated in Udaleku and several manifestations of Basque culture in Boise and the US. 

Diana speaks Basque fluently.  She and her husband are also members of the local Basque club.  She graduated with a degree in International Relations and since 2013, has served as the Director of Community Partnerships in her hometown.  She now hopes to become the County Commissioner of Ada County, that includes the city of boise.  Ada County has some 300,000 citizens. 

Primary elections will take place on May 15, with the general election taking place on November 6th. 

Elko’s Basque Sheriff

In the neighboring state of Nevada, in the city of Elko another large Basque community, Aitor Narvaiza also announced his candidacy on March 12th for Elko Sheriff.  Aitor Narvaiza has worked for 23 years in the Sheriff’s office in Elko where he has served as its deputy sheriff for years.  He was born in Ermua, Bizkaia and moved with his family to the US at the age of 8. 

Currently 50 years old, he is a member of the Euzkaldunak Basque Club in Elko.  He is very-well known in the western Basque community for his affection for herri kirolak and weightlifting.  One of the few weightlifters left in the US, he has traveled to other Basque communities including Boise and Connecticut to carry out exhibitions there.