Fritz Wiedenhoff disagrees with the Idaho Republican Party platform on two issues: Closed primary elections and repealing of the 17th Amendment.

The longtime Northern Lakes firefighter and part-time airport mechanic says his platform is "effectiveness." To start, he wants to effectively oust incumbent Rep. Vito Barbieri for District 2, Seat A.

In the past few years, 43-year-old Wiedenhoff has lost bids for the district's Seat B and North Idaho College's board of trustees. He's confident going into May's primary that voters are ready for change.

Wiedenhoff said candidates and incumbents sometimes "get sidetracked with issues that aren't really benefiting us and can be diminishing our effectiveness."

Closed primaries - requiring voters to affiliate Republican to vote in the Republican primary - are one example, he said. As of April 4, nearly 60 percent of Idaho voters were unaffiliated.

"They don't get to be part of the vote," he said. "That's not OK. Everybody has the right to be heard."

Repealing the 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which established election of U.S. senators by popular vote, would limit voters' rights and may open the door to corruption and deadlock, he said.

If elected, Wiedenhoff said he would work collaboratively with other legislators and would not be "carrying a single-item agenda."

If a bill to "add the words" to Idaho's discrimination law to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Idahoans were introduced in Idaho's House of Representatives, Wiedenhoff said he would need to know specifics before deciding whether or not to support the effort.

He would want to see the legislation "in its entirety."

"I'm not opposed to allowing any resident of Idaho or a group in Idaho to try to get legislation," he said, "particularly something that protects people - as long as they understand that whatever you're proposing must be within the confines of law, the Idaho Constitution and codes and statutes."

Wiedenhoff is open to exploring Medicaid expansion, but said it is not a change he would "blindly or openly support."

Though the federal government may commit to picking up 90 to 95 percent of the tab, Wiedenhoff said he is concerned about the effect instability in Washington, D.C., could have in the future.

If the portion Idaho is responsible for were to increase, Wiedenhoff said the state wouldn't be able to absorb the costs. Before he would support Medicaid expansion, Wiedenhoff said there would have to be a sunset clause, or an out, if the federal government pays less than promised.

He would also want to make sure Medicaid expansion both covers those who really need it and saves Idaho taxpayers money.

"If it's going to save money for local taxpayers - particularly the counties' indigent funds - I think it could be a good idea," he said. "I don't want to get into a situation where we're forced to raise taxes to pay for it."

Exploring community-based health programs such as Heritage Health (formerly the Dirne Clinic) also has merit, he said.

"I want to make sure we're not leaving a better alternative unturned."

The discussion of whether to raise Idaho's minimum wage has to include and temper the needs of workers, families, business and industry, Wiedenhoff said.

Before forming an opinion on increasing the minimum wage, Wiedenhoff said he would want to see the language of a proposed bill.

"Every Idahoan has a right to earn as much money as they possibly can," Wiedenhoff said, "but we have to make sure that's tempered with everyone's needs being addressed."

Instead of debating a dollar figure for minimum wage, Wiedenhoff suggests chaining the minimum wage to a Consumer Price Index. Business needs to be able to survive increases in the minimum wage, he said.

"We have to put a lot of forethought into this," he said. "We need to ensure that what we embrace is going to accommodate all the needs and address industries as well as workers and families, but providing for some future increases, too."

Tax rebates, workforce training and urban renewal are all means to spur economic development in Idaho, Wiedenhoff said.

Urban renewal can be a "great tool," he said.

"We have a great example in Post Falls of how well urban renewal can work when done properly," he said. "I think there are a couple more throughout the state that were absolutely textbook fantastic."

Wiedenhoff acknowledged concerns that Coeur d'Alene's urban renewal agency, the Lake City Development Corporation, "has not done as well."

"I don't know if it's true or not," he said. "I'd like to see all the urban renewals have the same kind of successes that everyone seems to agree on, like Post Falls has."

Tax rebates for business could also encourage industry in Idaho, he said.

"If we can attract more business, more industry to Idaho, and if that is what we have to do, then I think it is a great tool," he said. "We also need a trained workforce. We need the workforce training if it is going to help economic development."

Profile:

Fritz Wiedenhoff

Age: 43

Profession: Firefighter with Northern Lakes Fire District for past 13 years, currently lieutenant. Part-time Operations Specialist/Mechanic at the county airport for past 14 years.

Education: Coeur d'Alene High School graduate, 1988. Associate's in Applied Science degree, diesel mechanics, North Idaho College. Attended Idaho State University.

Public service: I have not been elected to any office, but as stated, I have served the public for a significant period of time with distinction in various capacities.

Community service: Race for the Cure.

Resident: I have lived in the Garwood area for 21 years.

Marital status: Divorced.

Family: Father of three wonderful kids: Ashley, 18; Max, 14; and Madison, 10.

Hobbies: Anything outdoors, particularly camping, hunting, fishing, shooting and riding 4-wheelers with my children, as they have all taken on my love for Idaho's great outdoors.