I would like to thank my campaign chairs and good friends Governor Otter and Senator Risch–it is an honor to have our Governor and our U.S. Senator as two of our 4 campaign chairs.  Thanks also to Mark Ricks and Jack Riggs for being campaign chairmen as well.  These four men preceded me in the office in which I now serve.

I’d like to introduce my family – my patient wife of 31 years, Teresa; one of our sons – David, and his wife Kelsey.  Also our daughter-in-law Angela; thanks for attending.  Her husband Adam could not be here but I know he is here in spirit.  I am grateful for their unending support.

Also I want to thank state leaders, who made time in their busy schedules to be here – specifically Sec. of State Ben Ysursa, State Treasurer Donna Jones and State Controller Ron Crane.  Additionally, to the many Legislators and party officials, thank you as well for being here this morning—I deeply appreciate it.

It is wonderful to have such support here today as I announce my candidacy for the office of Lieutenant Governor!

You know, regardless of your politics, despite the difficult times we face — both as individuals and as a state — we all feel blessed to be in Idaho.

But our national government is in dire straits.  Everywhere I go, Idahoans tell me they are frustrated with the mess back in Washington.

They ask: “Where is the accountability?”

Federal spending is unsustainable and we have an incomprehensible debt:  Annual deficits of a $1 trillion; a national debt of $14 trillion—and on a trajectory to be $20 trillion; not to mention 2-3 times that number in unfunded future obligations.

Our current federal leadership fails to comprehend that opportunity for its citizens is first and foremost tied to financial solvency——where future generations are not saddled with debt or unfair taxes – especially deferred taxes or unfunded future obligations.

Fortunately – Idaho has not followed the unacceptable example of our federal government.

In Idaho, we share a common set of goals:  To keep Idaho a great place to work, a great place to call home and—- to create a better place for our children.

We strive to maximize opportunity for individuals, families and businesses.  We maintain common sense financial responsibility:  We do not spend what we don’t have; we match revenues with spending and we do not borrow what we can’t pay back.

As a third-generation Idahoan, I am eternally optimistic about the future of our state – and I hope Teresa and I have passed our Idaho values and optimism on to our sons.  To me, Idaho represents the best of the American Dream:  Idaho is a special place where opportunity thrives – with hard work, with ingenuity and perseverance there are no limits to our success.  And it is place with a healthy suspicion of government — where we are reluctant to turn to government for solutions.

As a rancher by nature we are independent and believe in personal responsibility.  Government should only be there to protect and create opportunity for individuals and businesses, not stand in their way.

A truism of modern life is ‘change is inevitable –adaptation and survival are optional’.

As your Lieutenant Governor I want to continue working to facilitate opportunities for Idahoans not only to adapt and survive–but to thrive in our changing world–by protecting existing jobs and businesses through the elimination of bureaucratic hurdles and unnecessary regulations.

We need to foster development of both our traditional industries and for new entrepreneurial enterprises.  We need to create new job opportunities by extolling the virtues our great workforce and quality of life to potential employers.  Finally, we need to ensure our children have an exemplary educational system to benefit from.

We are indeed blessed here in Idaho:  Our beautiful state with its precious wide open spaces, a government that is job and business friendly; but most importantly blessed with our people – our strong work ethic and common sense appreciation of family values and limited government.

Yet there is more to be done.  That is why I am running for this office:  together we can advance Idaho as a state that is remains economically sound, abundant with opportunity and the best possible place for our children, grandchildren and our great grandchildren.

Again – I appreciate your time today – and I humbly ask for your support in the coming months.

I have had the honor to serve as your Lieutenant Governor and I would like to ask for your support in the coming elections.  With your support and vote, I will continue serving you and all Idahoans.

Please feel free to have a look around the pages of my website, inside you will be able to learn where I stand on the issues and to learn the values I so strongly believe in.

Idaho is a unique and beautiful place, but it’s her people that I admire most.  In my travels around the state as both a rancher and elected official I have visited with thousands of folks who have made it clear what they expect out of their government.

I believe that Idaho is the place it is today because of good, solid Republican values, which I will do my best to protect and preserve.

I’m putting together a strong team of like-minded supporters who will help me along the road to victory.  If you’re interested in tagging along, please drop me a note and let’s get to work making Idaho even a better place to live.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you come back regularly to check on our progress.

Sincerely,