2010 RESPONSE

CANDIDATE NAME: Jeremy Boggess

OFFICE SOUGHT: Idaho State Senate District 4

(1) Why Am I Running for Office? I am concerned for our future, country, society and world. I am also concerned for our current safety, sustainability and progress for the future. My supporters and I are not only concerned with the present, but also what problems future generations will inherit from what we do or don’t do today. I truly have the need to make a difference and it bothers me deeply that I cannot do more.

We need practical working solutions that have results now. However, we cannot have short-term gain in exchange for long-term stability. We need to look for long-term solutions instead of short-term fixes, that otherwise put communities at risk for personal gain.

Let us create self-sufficiency for everyone and make opportunities for younger generations that may be out of reach for them. Let us make sure everyone has an equal chance to not only explore their full potential, but help their community as well.

(2 – 3) Critical Issues Facing Idaho: There are many important issues facing Idaho. If I were to only pick a few they would be:

• JOB CREATION: Creating jobs to get us out of our economic slump is not going to be done by one “Magic Solution” but by “Nickels and Dimes”. 20 jobs here or 30 jobs there do add-up. We need to encourage businesses to come to Idaho. More importantly, we need to make it easier for entrepreneurs, small business, and self-employed to do business in our own state. One example locally in our area is House Bill 393 concerning Distilled Sprits tasting much like they do with wine tasting. This bill was defeated.
• STATE REVENUE: We need to create revenue from other than increased taxes and fees. This again is not going to come from one solution but a lot of little ideas too numerous to list here. Some might include opening public areas to additional leasing opportunities, increasing Idaho exports, stop selling our state assets so cheaply, and stop wasting our taxes that we are already collecting.
• SEX OFFENDER LAWS: Vigorously campaign for stronger legislative mandates requiring a minimum of a life sentence, without the chance of parole for: Sexual Crimes Committed Against Children, Child Molestation, Pedophilia, Forcible Rape and Premeditated Murder. Continue to work on laws to eliminate all Statutes of Limitations on these crimes. Stronger sentencing mandates, extend prosecuting, extend discloser laws on offenders, and increase restraining orders for convicted sexual and violent offenders, especially against children. We need to have stricter penalties for knowingly and not reporting abuse, neglect, sexual crimes and harboring perpetrators. Continue pursing stronger minimum prison sentencing for out of state and in state sexual offenders that do not register.
• RENEWABLE ENERGY: Idaho has untapped economic potentials, if we only would allow them to flourish. One Example: This session Senate Bill S1273 that would have added to existing law to provide an expedited permitting process from the state and local governments for renewable energy projects. This bill would have created an estimated 300 jobs immediately with no state fiscal impact. This bill was defeated.

(4) I do not have any major endorsements at this time that have publicly expressed interest so early in the election.

(5) I have not had much experience with IACI. However, I have filled out previous questionnaires last election.

Background:

Growing-up in Northern Idaho in the Silver Valley and later Coeur d’ Alene, I know the need for fulfillment, hope and promise that is needed in our area and the need for a stronger presence in the Idaho legislation. Often a southern run legislature overlooks the concerns and needs of our area. Let our area be a stronger voice in our legislation. We need to have more local influence in policies across our state. A future must be guaranteed to all.

After graduating from Coeur d’ Alene High School I paid my own way through college with various jobs and much needed grants. I was the only male of my immediate family to graduate high school. I have an Associate of Science in Marketing/Mid-Management from Boise State University and one year of majoring in finance. I completed my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Lewis-Clark State College here in Coeur d’ Alene.

I have extended family and friends that are/were employed from the mining, timber and construction industry to others involved in environmental activities. I have grown to understand both points of view and their mindsets. This has given me the ability to find common ground. Often, I have been recruited to break stalemates. Both sides of an argument are not mutually exclusive and can be mutually beneficial. Butting heads only slows down progress. Running as an Independent I believe I can gain the trust and confidence of many moderates on both sides of the issues to accomplish goals that are commonly agreed upon and much needed, but hampered by party politics and extremists on both sides. Trust is very important to me and I will make every effort to represent you effectively.

2008 Response

Educational background:

6/89 - Coeur d’ Alene High School

6/92 - Boise State University - Associate of Science/Marketing Mid-Management (+1 year finance)

12/98 - Lewis-Clark State College - Bachelors of Science/Business Administration

Together we can give younger generations opportunities that may be out of reach for them. A future must be guaranteed and equal to all. I am concerned for the path of our future, country, society and world. I am tired of those who would put others/community at risk for personal gain. Let us seriously look for long-term solutions. Let us create advisory committees from all parts of the political spectrum. We are not alone in our actions. We must accept personal responsibility for the future.

Employment history:

4/94 - 9/98 - Self-Employed (Sales) - North Idaho

5/94 - 9/97 - K B Toys (FR. Toy Liquidator's) - Sales Associate - Post Falls, Idaho

3/99 - 1/00 - Gentry Finance - Collections/Process Loans - Coeur d' Alene, Idaho

1/00 - 7/00 - Various - Telemarketing Representative - Seattle, Washington

7/00 - 10/03 - Western Wireless Corp. - Customer Service-Issaquah, Washington

5/05 - 9/05 - Care Now Agency - Caregiver - Sagle, Idaho

9/05 - Present - August Home Health - Caregiver - Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho 

3/04 - Present - Self-Employed (Sales) - North Idaho

1.

I am concerned for the path of our future, country, society and world. The current safety, sustainability and progress of the future is concerning. Being concerned, I truly want to make a difference. It bothers me deeply that I cannot do more. I want to give younger generations opportunities that may be out of reach for them. A future must be guaranteed to all. We want to make sure everyone has an equal chance to not only explore their full potential, but help their community to explore as well.

2.

PUBLIC SAFETY - Stronger enforcement and prosecution for all sexual offenses (including one strike laws) and violent crimes (especially crimes committed against children/elderly and domestic/dating violence) - eliminate all Statutes of Limitations on these crimes. More rehabilitation opportunities for non-violent crimes and offenders too become productive members of society.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - Establishing Idaho (new industries) to be at the forefront of supplying and developing alternative resources for the future. Establish alternative energy resources and industries for economic, environmental, and national stability and security.

EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES - It is a fact that the higher the educational level a child has the further they will go in life often equating to a higher quality of life. I do not believe in handouts, however, a hand-up needs to be genuine and equally given to all. We need to devote more resources to our children’s futures if we wish them to compete effectively in the world of tomorrow. A proper education is the best offense to break the “Cycle of Poverty”. Prevent state cuts in funding and encourage the State of Idaho’s tax responsibility in education instead of placing the burden onto local property taxpayers. Receiving my education in Idaho, I know good teachers need more compensation than they currently receive and bad teachers need to be dismissed. We need to give all Idahoans something more to look forward to than living paycheck to paycheck. We need to create more education and/or training opportunities to create future self-reliance.

3.

I intend to create multi-partisan advisor groups from all aspects of the political spectrum. We want to search out and listen directly to concerns and suggestions directly from the citizens of district 4. As an Independent and moderate, I believe I can gain the trust of many moderates on both sides to accomplish goals that are commonly agreed upon and much needed, but hampered by party politics and extremists on both sides of an issue. I have family and friends that are/were employed from the mining, timber and construction industry to others involved in environmental activities. I have grown to understand both points of view and their mindsets. This has given me the ability to find common ground. Often, I have been recruited to break stalemates. Both sides of an argument are not mutually exclusive and can be beneficial for each other. It is simply a matter of mediation and finding agreement that both sides of the argument can be perceived as mutually beneficial. Butting heads only slows down progress. Compromise can be mutually beneficial.