North Idaho Legislators
DISTRICT 1 (Boundary County and part of Bonner County)
SENATE
SHAWN KEOUGH
Party: Republican
Years: Second
Phone numbers: (Sandpoint) 263-1839 or toll-free 1-800-4KEOUGH
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471 or 332-1340.
E-mail: skeough@senate.state.id.us
Committees: Agriculture, Education, Commerce/Human Resources
Profile: An energetic champion of northern interests, Keough was surprised and pleased her first year to find that senators from elsewhere were willing to listen. Pledges to return constituents’ calls or e-mails within 24 hours. A timber information specialist for the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, Keough wants to work this year to make government more “user friendly” and to attack Idaho’s school building problem.
HOUSE
JOHN CAMPBELL
Party: Republican
Years: Second
Phone numbers: (Sandpoint) 263-4774
(Boise) (00) 626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Education; Resources and Conservation
Profile: A semi-retired manufacturer of fishing lures, Campbell has been North Idaho’s silent representative, seldom speaking out on or proposing legislation. He shocked other lawmakers last year when he unsuccessfully proposed an amendment that would have killed another member’s bill, but claimed it just added a definition. This year, Campbell says he has legislation on “natural resources, that sort of thing” in the works that will “shake ‘em up a little bit.” Lifetime Bonner County resident.
JIM STOICHEFF
Party: Democrat Minority Leader
Years: 26th
Phone numbers: (Sandpoint) 263-2375
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us Committees: State Affairs; Ways and Means; Resources and Conservation; Local Government Profile: A retired teacher, coach and principal, Stoicheff is a plain-talking conservative and leader of the outnumbered House Democrats. Among his legislative proposals this year is a constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature oversight over the state Land Board, even though the board is made up of the state’s top elected officials and headed by the governor. Says Stoicheff: “They didn’t come down from Mount Olympus.”
DISTRICT 2 (Parts of Bonner and Kootenai Counties)
SENATE
CLYDE BOATRIGHT
Party: Republican
Years: Fourth
Phone numbers: (Rathdrum) 687-0591
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Judiciary and Rules (vice chairman); Transportation; Health and Welfare
Profile: A rancher and former real estate agent, Boatright previously headed a troubled local bus system. Has sponsored legislation requested by local authorities, but with little success. Argued against Idaho’s new .08 DUI level, saying drunken driving accidents are on the decrease so the law wasn’t needed. Plans legislation this year to tinker with a new restaurant inspection fee law, limit certain telephone fees and address traffic issues.
HOUSE
HILDE KELLOGG
Party: Republican
Years: 14th
Phone numbers: (Post Falls) 773-5412
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Revenue and Taxation (vice chairman); Business; Transportation and Defense
Profile: Kellogg is a respected longtime legislator and former committee chairman who is best-known for quietly pushing through the legislation that allowed dog-race betting in the 1980s and tax-increment financing for a Post Falls real estate project in 1994. In recent years, she’s worked closely with the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce on plans to improve Highway 95 across the state, and has sponsored legislation requested by local businesses. This year, she’ll push for a study designed to win North Idaho a fairer share of state sales tax revenue.
WAYNE MEYER
Party: Republican
Years: Fourth
Phone numbers: (Rathdrum) 687-0420
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Business (vice chairman), Education; Environmental Affairs
Profile: A grass-seed farmer, Meyer originally ran on promises to oppose restrictions on field burning. He’s since become involved in education issues, working during his first term to try to shift some community college funding from the property tax to the state, and focusing last year on his legislation to allow high school students to take college classes and get dual credit. Meyer plans some revisions to that new law this year, and will work for state funding for school buildings. Says the 22 years he spent as a high school basketball referee were “good training for becoming a state legislator.”
DISTRICT 3 (Downtown Coeur d’Alene and Hayden in Kootenai County)
SENATE
GORDON CROW
Party: Republican
Years: Fourth
Phone numbers: (Hayden) 762-0105
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Health and Welfare (vice chairman), Commerce and Human Resources; Resources and Environment
Profile: A former mining industry spokesman, Crow has championed welfare reform. This year, he’s leading efforts to look into ways to improve the quality of child care in Idaho, though he doesn’t expect legislation on that issue this session. He also sparked controversy by suggesting North Idaho College could be merged with the University of Idaho. A one-time newspaper reporter, the affable Crow owns a public relations agency.
HOUSE
JIM CLARK
Party: Republican
Years: Second
Phone numbers: (Hayden Lake) 772-5992
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Judiciary, Rules and Administration; Local Government; Revenue and Taxation
Profile: A talkative business consultant who also teaches at Eastern Washington University, Clark last year proposed a new budget stabilization fund that would force the state to save for bad years when it has good years. That would help avoid budget holdbacks or tax increases, Clark says. Though the measure didn’t go far last year, he’s bringing it back this year and is working with third-term Boise Sen. Grant Ipsen, a CPA.
JEFF ALLTUS
Party: Republican
Years: Fourth
Phone numbers: (Hayden) 762-1141
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Business, State Affairs
Profile: An insurance broker and co-founder of the conservative Christian group Citizens in Action, Alltus plans legislation to regulate polygraph operators, prevent public funds from being used on ballot issues, and limit replacement of candidates midway through a campaign. He also wants to re-examine winter feeding of deer and elk. A gun rights advocate, Alltus won attention during his first term for an argument he offered on the House floor that if a dog relieves itself in his yard, he should have the right to shoot it.
DISTRICT 4 (Parts of Shoshone, Kootenai and Benewah counties)
SENATE
JACK RIGGS
Party: Republican
Years: Second
Phone numbers: (Coeur d’Alene) 765-3326
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Commerce and Human Resources, Education, Judiciary and Rules
Profile: A physician who founded a chain of immediate-care centers, Riggs has made a plan to improve Highway 95 his top legislative priority this year. As a doctor, he says his motivation is safety. He also is working on a proposal to limit property tax assessment increases. In his first year, Riggs’ comments on the Senate floor about dealing with patients whose blood-alcohol level was at .08 percent or above helped pass a bill lowering Idaho’s drunk-driving limit from .10 percent to .08.
HOUSE
LARRY WATSON
Party: Democrat
Years: Second
Phone numbers: (Wallace) 752-4075
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471 or 939-8061
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Business; Local Government; Revenue & Taxation
Profile: A deputy county assessor and longtime ski patrolman at Lookout Pass, Watson comes across as mild-mannered but principled. He argued strongly against a bill that would have given counties the option to give some senior citizens property tax breaks, saying it was technically flawed and unworkable. Though the bill easily passed, Gov. Phil Batt vetoed it, citing the same concerns. This year, Watson is working on legislation on off-road vehicles, rural liquor licenses and float-home owners’ rights.
DON PISCHNER
Party: Republican
Years: Fourth
Phone numbers: (Coeur d’Alene) 667-5770
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Appropriations; Transportation and Defense
Profile: An asphalt specialist and site construction consultant, Pischner is a Coeur d’Alene native. He’s proud that he got only one “no” vote on the four bills he proposed during his first term, including one to raise traffic fines in road construction zones. Last year, Pischner won a coveted seat on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, the committee that sets the state budget. He says if he can this year, he’d like to work to increase elementary school teachers’ salaries.
DISTRICT 7 (Parts of Benewah, Latah, Nez Perce, Clearwater, Lewis and Idaho counties)
SENATE
MARGUERITE McLAUGHLIN
Party: Democrat Minority Leader
Years: 20th
Phone numbers: (Orofino) 476-4136
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471 or 332-1351
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Commerce and Human Resources; Finance; Local Government and Taxation
Profile: Part-owner of a family logging and excavation business, McLaughlin is an experienced player on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, where this year she plans to push for more funding for public schools and higher education. Last year’s session just “marked time,” she says. She also will push for funding for mental health services, and will co-sponsor legislation rewriting Idaho’s unemployment law and giving employers a tax cut.
HOUSE
JUNE JUDD
Party: Democrat
Years: Eighth
Phone numbers: (St. Maries) 245-2818
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us or jjudd@house.state.id.us
Committees: Agricultural Affairs; Judiciary, Rules and Administration; State Affairs
Profile: A retired educator from St. Maries, Judd successfully pushed for restrictions on so-called “monster trucks” in response to an accident involving a raised truck that killed an area resident. Her legislation brought dozens of modified truck enthusiasts to the capitol to protest. This year, she’s looking into possible restrictions on newly licensed teen-age drivers.
CHARLES CUDDY
Party: Democrat
Years: Eighth
Phone numbers: (Orofino) 476-3729
(Boise) 1-800-626-0471
E-mail: infocntr@lso.state.id.us
Committees: Resources and Conservation, Revenue and Taxation, Transportation and Defense
Profile: A conservative Democrat, Cuddy is just as likely to champion the cause of industry as he is to take on a more traditional Democratic issue. A timber industry supporter, Cuddy has joined Sen. Judi Danielson, R-Council, in a push for a pilot project in state management of federal lands in Idaho. He also championed California-based Gallo Winery’s unsuccessful attempt to win a tax exemption for a new cider product. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 15 Photos
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