Why I'm Running
for the Idaho State Legislature
I have been involved in the Idaho County Democratic party for almost 20 years. For the past several elections, we have had no candidates which has allowed the Republican party to feel free to move to extreme positions. I am running to give voters in District 7 a candidate that is closer to the center on most issues. The Republican platform does not reflect a conservative point of view but rather requires loyalty to extreme positions in those areas that concern rural Idaho with few checks and balances.
In my first 100 days I will:
01
Funding public schools, especially rural schools, so that they can support their communities, provide a strong and safe learning environment, make changes related to technology and methods of providing instruction, and prepare students for citizenship and work. I am for fully funding public schools including early child education before providing state funding (vouchers) for alternative choices. Funding for public schools needs to be reworked.
02
Supporting needed medical care in rural communities and limiting political involvement so that doctors and patients have the ability to make sound medical decisions.
03
Evaluating state funding to meet and balance local, state, and federal priorities. Rather than focusing on lowering taxes, it is important to get the right funding balance to meet the true needs of Idaho citizens using all available resources. The legislature establishes priorities and allocates monies and the agencies receiving these monies spend what is provided within the legislative intent as wisely as they can.
04
Supporting balance in public land management.
EDUCATION
There is not a one size fits all to early childhood education or adult vocational training for that matter. However, there are things that build community involvement and trust so that children can achieve academic success. By promoting the programs and activities that develop and strengthen engagement at an early age, rural communities can build a continuum of learning from early childhood development through high school that meets our educational goals. Rural communities have finite resources (buildings, people, time, money) with lots of demands on these resources. There are a variety of pathways to creating early childhood development. Programs that recognize where a community is along this continuum and creates a support system using the existing resources for all children tend to work. More often than not, it is the person or a group of engaged people that create success rather than a program. Support at the state level should include local input and assessment and ways to add supporting personnel, training, and funds for activities and programs that work for the local community.
IDAHO'S ECONOMY
Strong education systems improve the economy at all levels. By funding school infrastructure wisely, whole communities can gain. That is, by improving school infrastructure, local business, hospitals, churches, libraries, and homeowners can have access or cheaper access to connectivity needed to support quality education in rural areas.