COEUR d'ALENE - Dennis Engelhardt is taking on politics.

The Sagle Republican announced his bid for the District 2 Idaho State Senate seat this week, his first run for office.

His goals are straightforward: Promote and recruit small business across the state, oppose federal mandates that restrict Idaho's right to state govern, and expand vocational opportunities at the high school level.

"I'd gotten to that point where a vast majority of the people in the country and the state have become," Engelhardt, 58, said of his decision to run. "And that's frustrated with the government in this country."

The best way to effect change starts at the local level, he said.

"I decided I needed to take a more direct approach," he said. "The best way of getting involved and having an effect is running for a state seat."

Allowing the state to create jobs and business using its natural resources is key for Idaho to climb out of the recession, since 63 percent of the state land belongs to the federal government.

Those lands could be prime natural resources for industry, as well as grounds for new industries such as geothermal power development.

"We would have more than enough jobs for everybody if we were allowed to develop our natural resources," he said, adding that the fallen and overgrown timber represents a fire danger for North Idaho as well. "They're taking away our historical livelihood.

"They've been the stewards of the land," he said of the federal government. "And as far as I'm concerned they've been negligent stewards."

He said he would promote small business development by supporting tax breaks and minimal regulations for those companies, especially ones with 25 employees or less, which could be enticed to move to Idaho with the incentives.

"They're the backbone of the economy and they'll be the salvation," he said.

Engelhardt also supports investing in transportation and transmission line infrastructure improvements to help make the business atmosphere more attractive on the whole.

He said educational opportunities need to be expanded at the high school level to include vocational training so students enter the workforce more prepared.

Engelhardt served a tour of duty in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps, and is a retired law enforcement administrator. He has a degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in education and said he is skilled in the management of multi-million dollar budgets and large work forces.

Engelhardt moved to Idaho from California in 2004 with his wife, Dana. They have six children and six grandchildren.