Idaho GOP Platform Responses

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Survey and Interview Responses

How long have you lived in Idaho?

I’m a 6th Generation Idahoan since 1860. I grew up in Preston on a dairy farm and have lived here in Boise since 1997.

How long have you been a Republican? Any prior party affiliation?

I have been a member of the Republican Party since 1992 when I first voted. I have never been registered in another party.

Have you been involved with any political organizations (IACI, Idaho Majority Club, IFF< etc.)

I have given presentations on Transparent Idaho to IFF, IACI, IMC, Ronald Reagan Republicans, Rotaries, and chamber of commerces throughout the state.

Have you supported candidates from another party?

No

Why are you running for this office?

I want to continue the work that my office and I have been doing on transparency and feel there is more to complete.

Have you held elected office before?

Yes, Idaho State Controller (14 Years)

What makes you qualified for this role?

Current Idaho State Controller – started as an intern in the office back in Aug 1997.

What are your top priorities in your first year?

I am running to continue advancing transparency in government and maintaining strong financial oversight on behalf of Idaho taxpayers. My focus has always, and continues to be, protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring our state government operates efficiently and openly. My qualifications: I started here in the SCO as an intern and have the knowledge and expertise that is necessary for this office. My goals are to continue to improve public access to financial information for all levels of Idaho government, continue to upgrade outdated technology systems, increasing efficiency while reinforcing responsible stewardship of public funds.

How have you served your community (boards, nonprofits, etc.)?

Currently, my church calling is a leader over the 18-35 year old single adults in my faith.

Do you consider yourself fiscally conservative?

Yes, I describe myself as fiscally conservative as one who needs to live within our means and revert back what we do not need. My team and I continue to look for and provide ideas and suggestions on how we can continue to find savings and become more efficient each day.

Do you consider yourself socially conservative?

Yes, I describe myself as socially conservative.

Give us your one-minute elevator speech for the campaign.

I’m the current Idaho State Controller, sixth-generation Idahoan raised on a dairy farm in Preston. As Controller, my office handles all state financial information—we pay employees and bills across the government. Trust in government is at an all-time low, so I’m committed to opening the books through greater transparency at both state and local levels. By making financial data clear and accessible, we can rebuild that trust with Idaho citizens and show exactly how their tax dollars are being used. That’s why I continue to run for this office.

What is your plan to advocate for your top priorities?

We’ve already built strong transparency tools, including state government data and local data for cities, counties, school districts, and taxing entities. I pushed legislation to include local governments and now want to move beyond summary-level data to transactional, line-by-line details so citizens can see exactly where money goes—especially in education, where the state has invested heavily. I’ll continue pushing back against resistance from some governments, make data more consumable (even my grandma could understand it), and use AI to detect fraud, waste, and abuse while finding efficiencies.

What systems or practices are most important to ensure Idaho’s finances are accurate and properly tracked?

Independent audits that are separate from my office are critical to confirm accuracy. We also need modern, updated, and highly secure systems. As a government financial office, we’re a constant target for cybercriminals, so we harden our defenses daily with multiple layers of cybersecurity. Most importantly, we keep the books fully open with nothing to hide, showing complete transparency so Idahoans can see exactly how their funds are managed and reported.

**How does the Controller prevent errors or misuse of public funds, and what improvements have you made and would you like to make in the future? **

My office pays the bills and tracks spending after the Legislature appropriates funds through JFAC. We shine a light on how agencies use that money, especially near the end of the fiscal year. Using AI, I can quickly analyze public data—like spotting a $900 Uber ride or $2,000 hotel expense in minutes—and ask for context. Transparent Idaho holds agencies accountable because they know millions of Idahoans are watching. It’s like the cookie jar analogy: when everyone can see, agencies think twice before unnecessary purchases. We’ll continue strengthening oversight and accountability across state agencies.

How will you make it easier for Idahoans to see and understand how their tax dollars are spent?

We’ve made our website and data easy to access, with dedicated pages for every county, city, and taxing district. We need to keep expanding, adding more data, and creating visualizations so people can quickly spot anomalies and drill down into details. Listening to what citizens want to know—such as detailed Medicaid or education spending—helps us improve. The goal is clear, consumable information that lets any Idahoan easily see exactly where their tax dollars go.

As Idaho grows, what challenges does that create for state financial systems, and how are you preparing for it?

We implemented a new cloud-based government system about three years ago, which is secure and gives us the flexibility to handle growth. The key is staying one step ahead while protecting what makes Idaho great. Sometimes you use bailing wire and duct tape to extend the life of systems—like we did with our old mainframe for 35 years—rather than chasing every shiny new thing. It comes down to smart planning, matching the right resources, and building responsibly for the future.

The State Controller role includes positions on the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners and Idaho Board of Examiners. How will you effect change on these boards?

As one of the longest-serving Land Board members (14 years), I bring deep knowledge and experience. With Idaho’s growth and recent focus on public lands, we must educate citizens on our 2.5 million acres of state endowment lands and our clear constitutional mandate to maximize revenue as responsible landlords. Timber is our golden goose; grazing produces less. We collaborate with stakeholders and partners, but we make the tough calls. For example, on the upcoming Payette Lake land exchange, we’re requiring more due diligence to ensure it benefits the trust. My team and I provide continuity and practical insight to the board.

How does Idaho rate for Controller transparency compared to other states?

Only about 17 states elect their Controller; the rest are appointed by the Governor. Our Transparent Idaho website is among the top 3 to 5 in the nation—possibly the best. We update state data nightly (most states do it quarterly or yearly), and we’re one of only a handful that includes local government data all in one place. We pioneered this approach. Future plans include adding fiscal health comparisons between cities/counties and deeper education spending breakdowns (students, administration, instruction, busing, etc.) so citizens can easily evaluate how their local governments are performing.

What question should voters be asking, but aren’t?

Many voters have no idea what the State Controller does or why it’s an elected position. When the Idaho Constitution was written, framers deliberately made the Controller, Treasurer, and Secretary of State independent elected offices instead of giving all power to the Governor. I don’t report to the Governor or Legislature—I answer directly to the citizens. That independence and separation of powers lets me protect taxpayer dollars. For example, years ago I pushed back on pressure regarding the Idaho Education Network and safeguarded the funds. Voters should ask: What does the Controller do, and why does my independence as an elected official matter to them?