After sitting out the last two legislative sessions, Mike Jorgenson feels compelled to shoulder the responsibilities of lawmaking once more.

"I think that our elected officials from district 2 are an embarrassment to the people of Idaho and to the people of Kootenai County," said Jorgenson, 63, who served three terms in the state senate from 2004 to 2010, when he chose not to run for re-election.

Running for the district 2 senate seat, the Republican said his chief concerns lie with district Rep. Phil Hart of Athol. Jorgenson said he considers Hart's litigation over his tax issues, on top of concerns that Hart allegedly took timber from public lands, as distractions from serving the public.

"With the economic times we've just come through, and the unemployment we've just come through, we ought to be focusing everything we can to foster business growth and development," said Jorgenson, a Hayden Lake businessman who currently owns The Copa restaurant in Hayden.

If elected, Jorgenson said he would focus on dismantling and reworking laws he says are hindrances to new business.

When starting his restaurant in 2010, he said, he faced legal obstacles at the city, county and state levels, like excessive cap fees, and regulations on the size of his signs and parking lot.

"The first thing I would do is go through the restrictive ordinances and the laws that make is so difficult for businesses to get started," he said.

His strategy would include meeting with county and city associations to discuss how to work better with businesses, he said.

"You start right there, by teaching those organizations to teach employees at that level to ask, 'How can I help you?' as opposed to 'No, just fill out this application,'" he said.

According to Jorgenson's website, the highlights of his past lawmaking service include bills on victims rights and stronger penalties for sexual offenders.

He is also proud of the Kralicek bill, providing replacement health insurance for first responders permanently disabled in the line of duty.

"I believe a legislator should go down and represent the constituents," Jorgenson said. "I think that I've demonstrated I am a communicator. I know how to get things done."

Jorgenson has also previously served as a Hayden Lake city council member.

The Boise native has lived in Hayden Lake with his wife Cynthia for over a decade.

He has a bachelor's in business economics, with a minor in mathematics from Eastern Oregon University.

The father of two and grandfather of four has had broad business experience, including managing an eight-state branch for Snap On Tools. He has also worked in litigation consulting, and has traveled the country providing forensic document reviews, market evaluations and economic viability calculations.

"My business experience, it is who I am, but how that will help me as a legislator is the fact that I have taken my own money to open a business here in Idaho and go through all of these challenges," he said.

Jorgenson has also served as the vice president of the Spokane Coeur d'Alene Opera board and as a member of the Kootenai County for Youth Endowment Foundation. He was also legislative chair for the Kootenai County Republicans.

He urged voters to cast a ballot in the May 15 primary, where many elections will be decided.

Jorgenson noted that his experience in the legislature would give him a leg up in accomplishing his goals there.

"North Idaho will always be the minority (in the legislature). There are a lot more people down south than up here," he said. "It's important the legislators that we have take on the roles of responsibility."