Idaho GOP Platform Responses

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Survey and Interview Responses

How long have you lived in Ada County?

16 years. I grew up in Eastern Idaho.

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

I’m a life long member of the Republican Party

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

No

Have you supported candidates from another party?

No

Why are you running for this office?

I’m running for Ada County Treasurer to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure our county’s finances are secure, transparent, and efficiently managed. With years of experience managing cash, investments, and banking operations, I want to continue this work and give residents confidence that their money is in responsible hands.

Have you held elected office before?

I won election as PC of District 2013, but had to resign from the position when I moved.

What makes you qualified for this role?

I bring a unique combination of public-sector experience and private-sector financial leadership to the office of County Treasurer. I hold multiple professional certifications in public funds investment and treasury management, and I am committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

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

1. Enhance efficiency through continued system modernization. 2. Easing the burden on taxpayers while protecting the programs that residents rely on every day—making sure relief doesn’t come at the expense of public safety, infrastructure, or other essential services. 3. Strengthen cash management, forecasting and investment management.

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

I’ve had the privilege of serving on multiple boards and commissions focused on youth athletics in the Treasure Valley. In addition, I currently operate a nonprofit that provides resources and support to help young athletes thrive, both on and off the field.

Do you consider yourself fiscally conservative?

Yes, public funds are the public’s trust, and they must be handled responsibly. Spending should be deliberate and prudent—never frivolous—and decisions should only be made after evaluating all alternatives and ensuring maximum value for taxpayers.

Do you consider yourself socially conservative?

I’m socially conservative in the sense that I value strong families, community institutions, and long-standing local traditions. I believe in protecting and supporting the structures that strengthen our communities, while ensuring stability and responsibility in the management of public resources.

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

I’m Rob Brown, a fifth-generation Idahoan. I grew up here, and my family has deep roots in the state. With over 28 years in corporate finance and treasury roles across multiple industries, I joined the Ada County Treasurer’s Office three and a half years ago to apply that expertise for the benefit of local taxpayers. I want to continue delivering common-sense solutions that provide property tax relief while protecting public funds and serving the citizens of Ada County.

What is your plan to advocate for your top priorities?

The biggest thing is building strong relationships between county leadership and the Idaho Legislature. We can’t set policy or law at the at the county level. We’re boots on the ground dealing with the public every day, hearing their concerns and feedback. I will use that real-world input to give legislators the information they need to enact effective policies that benefit taxpayers.

What oversight exists or should exist for collections and disbursements?

These are taxpayers’ funds, not the county’s or the treasurer’s. Strong internal controls and accurate, transparent reporting are essential. The taxing districts are responsible to actively oversee their own money. And then it’s the treasurer’s responsibility to make sure that the internal controls and the reporting is in place, so that we can answer their questions at any time.

How will you communicate clearly about tax usage?

The current treasurer and the department have done a great job of publishing a pie chart that shows where funds are being used. Over 50% of the funds are being used for public safety. which is exactly where we need to spend. I will make reporting even more granular with new software so taxpayers can clearly see exactly where their money is going.

What internal controls exist or should exist to prevent misuse of funds?

I love that our county government structure includes separation of the accounting function and the treasury function. It was a little bit of a learning curve for me as I moved over from the corporate side. The accountants report through the county clerk, and the finance organization reports through the treasurer. This is different from the corporate environment where both functions report to the CFO. With the county structure, there’s no ability to commingle or to hide funds. There is a group responsible for reporting and a group responsible for transacting reports to two separate elected officials.I think this is very beneficial.

Are there any changes you would like to see made to Idaho Code in relation to allowed investments?

The State Treasurer can invest in some higher-grade commercial paper, but at the county level we wear many hats and don’t have a dedicated investment team for constant monitoring. I think we should stick with common-sense rules that protect taxpayer funds rather than taking on unnecessary risk. Any changes should come from practical discussion.

What is your position on placing county funds with financial institutions that prioritize ESG goals?

I believe politics should stay out of banking and investing. County funds should be placed where they earn the best return for taxpayers, not to advance any political or social agenda. I was glad Ada County previously used U.S. Bank, which avoided those ESG-driven policies.

What question should voters be asking but aren’t?

Voters should ask why certain balances build up in county coffers and what those idle funds are being used for or invested in. Big projects like opening a new landfill cell require saving over multiple years instead of hitting taxpayers with sudden spikes. People deserve transparency on why reserves exist and how they serve the public.

You mentioned you used to work at the county treasurer’s office. Why did you leave?

I came from the private sector with a very proactive approach to finance. After I joined, we turned over a significant portion of the finance staff because many long-time employees were doing the job the way they had always done it, which was somewhat dated and lagging behind current best practices. I brought in new team members from outside public accounting—many from the private sector—to make the organization more forward-looking and get ahead of issues that hadn’t been addressed before.

Once the new staff was in place, this accelerated our progress, but it created friction with the Treasurer. I was pushing for changes at a pace she wasn’t comfortable with, and she was causing frustrations for me as well. We mutually agreed that it was best for me to exit the office. This allowed me to focus on other priorities while giving her more peace of mind, so we weren’t causing ongoing day-to-day frustration for each other.

How would you define the current status of efficiency and effectiveness in the Treasurer’s Office.

It’s improved since I started, but there’s still work to do. The current software was built internally in the late 1980s and struggled with working to implement recent laws like HB 292. A new system is in the RFP stage. Real efficiency won’t come just from new software—we also need to adapt our processes to industry best practices instead of forcing old ways into modern systems.

If you are elected, how will you handle long time employees?

I won’t come in swinging the axe or demand “my way or the highway.” I believe in building relationships, explaining the “why” behind changes, and having open conversations. The public sector moves slower than the private sector, so I will respect that pace while still working to make improvements through dialogue.

Voters are very, very interested in results. as the County Treasurer, what three prioritized results do you seek to accomplish?

1. Deliver common-sense property tax relief—such as increasing the homestead exemption—without bankrupting the state, especially as home values have risen sharply.

2. Work closely with the Assessor to ensure realistic property valuations for tax purposes, not just inflated post-COVID sales prices.

3. Partner with the Clerk on budgeting to tighten belts where possible and keep costs under control.