EDUCATION
It is important that taxpayer monies are used for their intended purposes, and we do that through creating appropriate checks and balances. Recent laws side step the regulations that generations of Idahoans have put in place to keep our education systems accountable.
There is a simple system of checks and balances that will help reduce fraud and make the delivery of education dollars more effective.
Periodic Testing. Children receiving public funds for educational purposes need to be tested at the same intervals required of our public schools. Students would be tested in their school district and their parents would be supplied with test results, comparisons with state and national averages, and recommendations for supplementation where needed. This will ensure that the student receiving the benefit actually exists and is afforded the same benefits as their public school counterpart, and assure the taxpayer that education is being delivered.
TAXES & GOVERNMENT
It is imperative that our budgeting process is balanced and provides for a secure state government.
Between 2010 and 2024, Idaho has grown by over 23%, adding some 190,000 new residents from April 2020 to July 2025 - ranking second in the nation in growth rate. This population growth has created strain on our key infrastructure and essential services. Our Highway 95 corridor is one of the most affected areas. Yet recent federal tax cuts has forced Boise to cut Highway improvement projects across the state. This means a continued dangerous corridor for travel in our district.
Other Essential Services are being left unmet. Pay increases for our State Police troopers was denied, encouraging good troopers to seek employment elsewhere. Key education programs are being left unfunded - affecting our most vulnerable students. We should not force our public servants to work for servants pay.
One way to keep our wages down and retention up is to introduce a competitive, graduated pay and promotion system for our public employees. This will keep entry level employees in entry level jobs, encourage innovation and efficiency, and retain the best employees for our governmental services.
ECONOMY
Idaho needs to become a leader in innovation, infrastructure, and small-scale agro-industries. This can be accomplished through smart policies (like reducing unnecessary restrictions) that encourage and foster growth while allowing the free market to do what it does best. The goal is to make Idaho self-sufficient and successful.
Idaho needs workers, and workers need housing that is affordable. This isn't done through regulating housing prices, but rather, we need to increase the inventory of homes and properties available. In Bonner and Boundary County, I would encourage county planning departments increase the number of high density and medium density residential zones to increase the supply of housing for workers on a pathway to home ownership.