Ysursa: ‘Honor and privilege to serve’

Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa says he’s attended more than 400 state Land Board meetings in the past 40 years; he’s retiring at the end of his current term and participated in his final one today. He lauded the board for sticking to its constitutional mission: “That is the No. 1 goal of the Land Board is to maximize income for the long term for our beneficiaries under Article 9, Section 8 of the Constitution,” Ysursa said. The largest of those beneficiaries is Idaho’s K-12 public schools.

“I think we should never forget that the most valuable asset in the state of Idaho are its people, those are the ones we work for,” Ysursa said. “There’s also ones we work with, so I want to thank the Department of Lands staff over the years for the good work that they’ve done. Director (Tom) Schultz and others have really focused in on that mandate, again, it’s all about getting money for the beneficiaries. It’s been my honor and privilege to serve, and I appreciate it.”

Schultz presented both outgoing Land Board members – Ysursa and state schools Supt. Tom Luna – with paintings of Priest Lake, in memory of the board’s long dealings with cottage sites on the lake.