Legislative candidates take stage at forum

SANDPOINT — 10 local candidates gathered in Sandpoint High School’s auditorium Wednesday to make their platforms, policies, and perspectives known to voters. 

KRFY Panhandle Community Radio, the Selkirk Association of Realtors, and the Bonner County Daily Bee collaborated to host the Oct. 2 forum, which featured contenders for two Bonner County commissioner seats, the Idaho House 1A and 1B positions, and the role of District 1 State Senator. 

All candidates were offered time to introduce themselves and make closing remarks. Each of the three candidate groups were presented with a series of questions — including questions submitted by audience members — and had two minutes to respond.

District 1 State Senator 

Republican Jim Woodward faces independent candidate Dan Rose in the race to represent District 1 in the Idaho Senate. At the forum, Woodward spoke in support of personal liberties for North Idahoans and preserving the area’s “live and let live atmosphere” when it comes to differences of opinion. 

“We all have this reason why we're here in Idaho,” Woodward said. “We're looking for a light touch of government, low taxes, but effective government from those taxes.” 

Woodward voiced his desire to see Idaho open its primary elections to all voters but described Proposition 1 as a citizens’ initiative for voters to determine. He stated his support for raising the grocery tax credit and his dissatisfaction with how Idaho’s current abortion laws affect community doctors. 

Rose expressed his commitment to promoting independence from government, taxes, and regulation. He told audience members he supported retaking public lands under the equal footing doctrine and that he opposed Proposition 1, citing concerns about counties bearing costs associated with the change and the integrity of elections under the proposed system. 

“I wish enthusiastically to represent you in carrying the liberty torch forward and not going back to where we were two years ago,” said Rose. 

He added that he would like to see the state enable counties to charge an impact fee on the sale of homes from people from out of state. 

Idaho House of Representatives, District 1B 

Idaho House 1B contestants Kathryn Larson (D) and Cornel Rasor (R) gave insight into their positions on a variety of issues. Larson criticized Idaho’s current laws surrounding women’s health and abortion and emphasized a desire to attract doctors to the state. 

“I think part of it is that we need to pay fair wages,” Larson said of doctors and healthcare professionals. “We need to pay fair wages to our law enforcement as well. We need to pay fair wages to our educators.” 

Larson said she supported Proposition 1 and voiced her desire to see the state provide more robust funding to cities and counties in order to support education and other public services. 

Rasor stated he would vote according to the Constitution and told audience members he opposed Proposition 1, believing the voting system shouldn’t be fixed if it isn’t broken. He emphasized his commitment to working hard and being accessible to constituents. 

“I believe in work. I'll get up at four o'clock in the morning and I'll go to bed at 11 and work for you hard in Boise,” said Rasor. 

He shared his desire to ensure Idaho remains free, a good place to live, and a good place to raise children. 

Idaho House of Representatives, District 1A 

Idaho House 1A candidates were also present; Republican Mark Sauter and Democrat Karen Matthee weighed in on a series of topics. Sauter described himself as an advocate for women’s health and said that if he is elected, he’ll work to improve the clarity of Idaho’s abortion laws. He added that he believed Proposition 1 is a decision for voters to make and emphasized his desire to represent all North Idaho residents, regardless of party affiliation. 

“I vote for our community,” Sauter said. “Yes, I have a conservative side of me, but most of all, I answer to all of you.” 

Matthee shared her desire to keep politicians out of doctors’ offices and — like Larson — saw attracting health care providers to Idaho as a critical objective. She voiced support for Proposition 1, saying it would allow constituents to vote for people, not parties.  

“It will put power in the hands of the voters, and it will require politicians to appeal to a much broader spectrum of voters,’ Matthee said of Proposition 1. 

Full broadcast 

A link to the complete audio recording by KRFY is available on the web at krfy.org. A video stream of the event is featured on the Bonner County Daily Bee Facebook page at facebook.com/@dailybee/.

    Jim Woodward (R), candidate for District 1 State Senator.
  

    Dan Rose, independent candidate for District 1 State Senator.
  

    Kathryn Larson (D), candidate for District 1B State Representative.
  

    Cornel Rasor (R), candidate for District 1B State Representative.
  

    Mark Sauter (R), candidate for District 1A State Representative.
  

    Karen Matthee (D), candidate for District 1A State Representative.