Why I am running for Idaho Lieutenant Governor

I am running for Lieutenant Governor for many reasons. Most importantly, I am running because it is time for change in Idaho. For too long Idahoans have voted against their own interests, assuming that the people they vote for will have their best interests at heart simply because of the party affiliation next to their names. For many years, I believed the elected leaders in Idaho shared my values and that they genuinely cared about me. For the past four or five years, that belief has been absolutely shattered. I now see that in order to have a state with leaders that respect my values and the values of most Idahoans, I needed to be a voice for all of us. A voice of reason. A voice of humility. And a voice for change. It’s time.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will use my voice and stand up for the dignity and freedom of all Idahoans. I believe in civil rights and I will be a champion for citizens, ensuring that all of their rights are protected. I will support equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity for all. We are living in a time when our rights are being challenged. I do not want to see the day that the rights we have fought long and hard for are no longer afforded to my children, to your children, to all Idahoans. My daughter deserves the same freedoms and rights I have been blessed with for my entire lifetime. My son deserves to live in a state where his education is not censored and he is taught actual history. Every Idahoan deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, ethnicity, age, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

I believe in the United States Constitution and all amendments enacted. I strongly support the First Amendment. Our dignity as Americans, and as Idahoans, depends on our right to privacy, the right to freedom of expression, and the right to exercise religion as we see fit. The Second Amendment protects our freedom to bear arms. I am not running to take away your guns. I own guns and that freedom was afforded to me under the Constitution, just as it is afforded others. I believe the Fourteenth Amendment protects all Idahoans in guaranteeing them equal protection under the law, and further that their life, liberty and property cannot be taken from them without due process under the law.

As Lieutenant Governor, I would use my voice on the Idaho Land Board to protect and preserve all public lands in the State of Idaho for the use and benefit of the public. As a native Idahoan, I have spent a great deal of time enjoying Idaho’s public lands, from hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, whitewater rafting, skiing, and recreating. We are so lucky to have access to some of the most beautiful wilderness right in our back yards and we need to protect and preserve our public lands for our generation and all those who come after us. I am committed to protect and preserve the public lands in Idaho.

Education is a cornerstone of a healthy society. Idaho, for too long, has failed its children. I am committed to put the education for our children first. Public education is critical to ensure that all Idahoans have the equal opportunity to learn and get a head start in life. In order to be a successful state, we must first have successful citizens. By providing our children with a first rate education, we are ensuring that Idaho will have a strong and viable work force. I support public education, pre-K education, full time kindergarten, and full access to public education all across Idaho, whether rural or urban. Funding is critical to a strong public education system, and I will support Idaho’s public education system, our teachers, and our rural schools. Every person should have access to education without restrictions based on where they live or how much money they have. It’s time to invest in our children, they are our future, the future of Idaho.

The past year and a half has been rough for all Idahoans. The pandemic hit small businesses in Idaho especially hard. As Lieutenant Governor, I will not deny that the pandemic happened, or that we have still not made it to the other side. I will, however, do everything I can to ensure small businesses can recover and prosper. As a small business owner myself, I am very familiar with the struggles small business owners face.