Legislator profile: Heather Scott

Heather Scott

Hometown: Blanchard, Idaho

Party: Republican

District: Scott’s District 1 is the northernmost in the state, taking in Boundary and most of Bonner counties, and abutting the Canadian border.

Background: Scott, a combative conservative, was stripped of all her committee assignments at the start of this year’s legislative session after she said female lawmakers only advance in the House if they “spread their legs.” Her committees were restored after she apologized and retracted her remarks. With fellow second-term Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, Scott is the leader of a small group of dissident representatives – four freshmen women, plus Scott and Nate – who have been attempting to protest against the GOP House leadership by using parliamentary procedures, succeeding only in slowing House business to a crawl.

Last election: Scott defeated Democratic challenger Kate McAlister with 62.5 percent of the vote in November to win her second two-year House term.

Committee assignments: Commerce & Human Resources; Environment, Energy & Technology; State Affairs

Education: Sandy Valley High School, Magnolia, Ohio. Bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Akron, 1994.

Work experience: Worked as an aquatic biologist for more than 15 years, including field work in Idaho, California, Colorado, Washington and Utah. Has quit work to focus full-time on being a state representative.

Family: Married, no children

Office phone: (208) 920-3120

Email: hscott@house.idaho.gov