Idaho GOP Platform Responses

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Survey and Interview Responses

“How long have you lived in Ada County?

Born in Moscow, Idaho then 15 years as a young man, then another 35 years as an adult.

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

The only party with which I have registered is the Republican Party.

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

I have never been a member of any of those.

Have you supported candidates from another party?

No.

Why are you running for this office?

Public service and sharing my expertise as a CPA.

Have you held elected office before?

Two terms on school board and 5 terms on the Senate.

What makes you qualified for this role?

Experience, lifetime career as CPA, grounded in conservative principles.

If elected, what 2-3 actions do you intend to pursue in your first year?

Continue right-sizing Idaho State spending; continue to sponsor and to vote for tax relief; keeping Idaho free of abortions and recreational drugs.

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

Multiple years as Chairman of Meridian School Board; passed the bond issue that built Centennial High. Overhaul of Idaho’s budget process to be more transparent and to reduce rate of spending.

Do you consider yourself fiscally conservative?

Yes. See above

Do you consider yourself socially conservative?

Yes. I support the values, including the principles of conservative government and the moral principles this country was founded on.

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

I’m a lifelong Idahoan, CPA by profession, and former school board trustee and chairman. After retiring, I entered the legislature to apply my background in taxation and business. I now serve on JFAC, helping manage a $15+ billion budget, and on the Taxation Committee. My focus is using financial discipline to guide state spending and policy. I’ve been involved in campaigns and public service for years, and I bring that experience to ensure Idaho remains fiscally responsible and well-managed.

What are your top three priorities, and what would you act on first?

I advocate by actively cutting spending and advancing tax relief. This session, I pushed for deeper budget cuts beyond the governor’s proposal and helped pass $155 million in tax relief. I’ve worked to reduce property taxes for homeowners over multiple years. On social issues like abortion and recreational drugs, I monitor ballot initiatives and will actively campaign against them if they qualify. I take a direct, hands-on approach—working bills, building support, and fighting for outcomes that align with conservative principles.

The party calls for reducing non-core state spending. Which programs would you cut or sunset, and what principles guide your budget decisions?

We’ve already made significant cuts, especially in areas like public health and childcare programs. I believe the biggest opportunity to reduce spending is in Medicaid and what I view as socialized medicine. While federal mandates limit us, we are working to implement work requirements and reduce dependency. I’ve personally led efforts to stop unnecessary spending increases, even when it meant opposing the governor. My guiding principle is to limit government growth and reduce programs that expand long-term dependency.

Do you support education dollars following students to the school their parents choose, including private schools? Why or why not?

I strongly support school choice and was a sponsor of the legislation that created a tax credit program. I believe education decisions belong to parents, not the government or school systems. My own family has used public, private, and homeschool options, and I believe parents should have the flexibility to choose what’s best for their children. When traditional legislative paths were blocked, we found alternative ways to pass school choice through tax policy.

Housing costs and property taxes are major concerns. What specific state actions would you support, and what tradeoffs are you willing—or not willing—to make?

My primary focus has been reducing property taxes, especially for owner-occupied homes. Over the past four years, I’ve helped deliver consistent tax relief by redirecting sales tax revenue to offset property tax bills. Homeowners often lack representation, so I’ve made it a priority to advocate for them. While revenue remains strong, spending—especially in Medicaid and public health—is the main challenge. Moving forward, we’ll need to continue cutting spending to maintain and expand tax relief.

What is your position on holding employers accountable for knowingly hiring undocumented workers in Idaho?

I believe all workers should be in the country legally, and employers must be held accountable for hiring practices. Allowing illegal labor undermines the system and creates unfair conditions. I support requiring employers to verify legal status and believe current policies have gone too far in extending rights to those here illegally. Enforcement and accountability are necessary to maintain a lawful workforce and protect Idaho’s economy.

Medicaid costs are rising, and access remains a concern. What long-term reforms would you support to control costs, improve access, and protect taxpayers?

We are working to control Medicaid costs through managed care organizations and stronger oversight. A key focus is reducing fraud and ensuring only eligible individuals receive benefits. During recent years, we removed tens of thousands from the rolls who no longer qualified, though federal rules forced some back on. Federal mandates limit state flexibility, but we are pushing for accountability and better coordination to prevent waste and control long-term costs.

What is your stance on the legalization of marijuana?

I have consistently opposed marijuana legalization and have worked to limit ballot initiatives that could bypass the legislature. I supported raising the threshold for initiatives and advanced a constitutional amendment to ensure drug legalization decisions remain with elected representatives. I believe legalization leads to negative outcomes seen in other states and is driven by large financial interests. I will continue fighting to keep marijuana illegal in Idaho and oppose both recreational and medical expansion efforts.

Would you oppose multi-subject bills—even if you support part of them? Why or why not?

I oppose multi-subject legislation because it allows bad policy to be hidden within otherwise good bills. Once programs are written into law, they are difficult to remove. I prefer keeping policies out of statute when possible so they can be more easily repealed if needed. My focus is preventing unnecessary expansion of government and maintaining the ability to eliminate programs that shouldn’t exist, such as certain childcare spending initiatives.”