POST FALLS - Jeff Ward wants to put his political and community involvement to use in Boise.

Ward, president and founding member of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans, is seeking the District 3 House Seat B position currently held by Frank Henderson. Henderson is retiring.

Ward, Don Cheatham and Greg Gfeller are seeking the slot during the May 20 primary.

Ward said Idaho's economy has sputtered long enough.

He believes his political experience, which also includes being a former legislative staff member in the Washington House and being former North Idaho director for the Idaho Republican Party, would be an asset in Boise.

"I think we need to reform business taxes in Idaho to make us competitive because we aren't now with neighboring states," he said. "We need to bring business here and help existing businesses grow and prosper."

Ward, president of a publishing firm called the Titan Group, said he'd like to see urban renewal laws more representative of the people and less focused on pet projects statewide.

"Urban renewal laws in Idaho are not representative of the people and are not sufficiently designed to stop the misuse of funds," Ward said. "They need to be more stringent and have more accountability."

Reducing taxes and regulation, not adding more "freebies," is the best way to attract businesses to Idaho, he said.

Ward said he wouldn't support holding a hearing on adding language to discrimination laws to protect lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered people.

"I believe in equal rights for everybody and special rights for nobody," he said. "Such proposals specify certain groups, and I don't support that."

Ward believes that expanding Medicaid would be a case of "cost shifting."

"We need to look at the issue holistically, not individualistically," he said. "There's huge inefficiencies in the entire health care system that need more of a broader look.

"I think we need to focus more on free market and consumer-based health care reform, including Medicaid so people who have Medicaid have greater control of their health care."

Ward said he believes that raising the minimum wage would also raise the unemployment rate as the number of jobs would be reduced to help businesses survive.

"We really need to focus on creating good-paying jobs by reducing regulations and taxes," he said. "Minimum wage increases are job killers."

Ward said he would also work to improve Idaho's schools. He believes there needs to be fewer regulations, particularly from the feds, and more competition and accountability in education. He also believes more money needs to be funneled to the classrooms and less on administrative costs.

"We need more choice in education, whether it be with public, private or charter schools," he said.

Profile:

Jeff Ward

Birth date: July 3, 1964

Profession: president of the Titan Group, a publishing company

Educational background: bachelor's degree in political science, master's degree in history

Public service: former legislative staff member in the Washington House, former Congressional staff member for George Nethercutt, former North Idaho director for Idaho Republican Party

Community service/nonprofits: church ministry leader, Kootenai County Reagan Republicans, National Rifle Association, former Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center member, former Young Republican National Committeeman, former Republican Precinct chair, founding member of the Panhandle Pachyderm Club

How many years a resident of your district: 10

Marital status: married to Glorie

Family: daughter

Hobbies: acting, historical research, writing