ISSUES
Addressing Irresponsible Growth
It is widely known that if you grow an area faster than your infrastructure can handle it then you can incur greater expense fixing it than if you had focused on manageable growth to begin with. I want to continue the meaningful discussion about growth and what kind of community we want to have.
The reality is that growth doesn’t pay for itself. Existing residents should not be getting taxed out of the community. We need to fix that and tackling the rate of growth will help with that.
We also need to look at impact studies. These need to be conducted in such a way that local leaders (and the public) understand how development is affecting our infrastructure, to include roads, schools, public safety, water, etc.
And finally, we need to look at zoning and comprehensive plans to ensure that they are consistent with what this community wants for its future. Finding that balance of preserving the charm that has drawn so many to this area with responsible growth is essential if we want to maintain our high quality of life.
How to Keep Your Taxes Lower in the Long Run
As a result of short-sighted thinking, we allowed an entire jail wing that is an empty shell. More short-sighted thinking allowed our 911 call center to get down to almost 1/3 staffing levels. Our Prosecutor’s Office was down 20%.
It costs a lot more to rebuild departments than it does to maintain them. Shortsighted thinking got us there and that must end. I will focus heavily on preserving our justice service component of county government and make sure we have a properly funded system that can ensure a safe community for all of us.
Political Leaders Who Do Not Care
At the national level, politicians appear to ignore their constituents in ways unimaginable. Our borders are being overrun by millions of immigrants who get free phones, food and housing. While these illegals are welcomed, our own communities suffer. This is unacceptable.
That’s why I decided to become your next county commissioner. You deserve to have a voice and I want to make sure you have one. Sadly, Kootenai County has not been immune from this kind of tone-deaf politician. That will change with my leadership.
The Answer is Local
We can make a difference by turning our attention here and ensuring we get the community we want and deserve. We cannot have a meaningful impact at the national level, but we can make a big difference locally. That’s why I’ve committed to serving you in this great community.