Rural Values
On March 3rd, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared Idaho a territory, recognizing its abundance of natural resources. Early pioneers developed the timber, mining, and agriculture industries in Idaho to build the natural resource-based state and rural values we enjoy today. Growing up on a farm south of Nampa our rural values were instilled in me and remain the foundation of who I am. I’ve utilized these values throughout my banking and business career. More recently these values have guided my decisions while serving six years in the Idaho legislature. Fierce independence, reducing our tax burden, promotion of an effective education system, respect for civility and the enforcement of the law supported by a strong defense of our second amendment are all basic rural Idaho values. These are all values important to me and are demonstrated throughout my voting record.
Don’t just take my word for it, check the record and ask those who live and breathe rural Idaho values every day. These are the people and organizations who live, work, and promote Idaho rural values. My strong belief in Idaho rural values has been recognized throughout my tenure with countless endorsements from rural Idaho value driven organizations like Food Producers of Idaho, the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, the Idaho Dairy Industry, the Snake River Sugar Beet Growers Association, the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, and the National Rifle Association, to name a few.
In contrast, the current District 13 Senator, Brian Lenney, has not demonstrated his understanding nor support of rural Idaho values. He consistently votes against rural Idaho values. His poor voting record is confirmed by the fact he hasn’t received a single endorsement from the organizations who know Idaho rural values. Why hasn’t he been endorsed by these organizations? While he claims to be a champion for education, he attempts to defund Idaho education by voting against every education budget presented on the Senate floor including the funding of school choice in Idaho through the Empowering Parents Grants program (HB208, SB1204, SB1205, SB1206, SB1207, SB1208, SB1209, SB1210). He voted against reducing the tax burden on Idaho citizens (HB288). He voted against law and order choosing to vote against funding the Idaho State Police (HB359). Brian claims he is a strong supporter of our 2nd Amendment rights but voted against the only 2nd Amendment bill of the 2023 session (SB1173). If understanding and promoting rural Idaho values is important to you, Brian Lenney is not your senator.
