Jack Schroeder believes in giving it straight.

And with detail.

"None of the politicians will go out on a limb and be specific," the 71-year-old businessman said. "But I don't have that problem. I'm not a politician. I'm just a very concerned, conservative American."

That's why Schroeder, who is running on the Republican ticket for the District 5 state Senate seat held by Jim Hammond, is campaigning with a bullet list of how to create more jobs in Idaho.

Schroeder's 10-point plan includes lowering the state sales tax to zero over the next four years, as well as freezing hiring and salaries in the state for 18 months. He would also reduce all 258 state employee salaries by 5 percent.

"I don't feel the economy is going to improve. I think it's going to get worse," Schroeder said. "We're budgeting toward a recovery, and I think that's a mistake."

Schroeder would be apt at putting his list into action because of his diverse background, he said.

Originally from Long Island, N.Y., he obtained a bachelor's in communication from the University of Notre Dame and went on to work as in management positions at JC Penney and then J.P. Stravens for 18 years.

That followed with running a marketing company in Orange County, Calif., for another 18 years, and designing and implementing certificate programs for the University of Phoenix.

At 60, he obtained a master's in organizational management at the University of Phoenix.

Now working as an insurance agent in Post Falls, where he and his wife have lived for 4 1/2 years, Schroeder said his collective experience has seasoned him for a run in Boise.

"I have good leadership skills. I have good budgeting and marketing skills," he said. "I have no political allies and no agenda. I want to get the job done for the people."

Schroeder has six children and seven grandchildren.

He promised to take his business skills to Boise.

"When I was in corporations, we'd go into meetings with an agenda, and we'd be in for 30 minutes and then gone and we'd have a decision," he said. "I know that's not how the legislative process works, but I don't understand why it can't be better than it is."