Heather Scott tours district, state
Judd Wilson Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 3 months AGO
OLDTOWN — State Rep. Heather Scott, Republican from Blanchard and Tea Party favorite, has been touring the state and her home district with one mission in mind. You might be surprised to learn that it’s not to win reelection.
Of course, Scott does intend to win reelection one month from now. But her primary mission is to educate voters on what she feels is the number one solution, and the number one problem in the state: the untapped and often unknown-about powers of an informed citizenry.
While others may feel discouraged about America’s future, Scott said that she is fueled by an optimism based in what people can do when they take action to improve their government.
“We still have the opportunity to fix our country,” she told residents Oct. 6 at Rotary Park in Oldtown. For three years, she has educated -- and been impressed by -- citizens taking action. She said legislators from other parts of the state say North Idahoans are “on fire” and “a ray of hope.” “You’re making news across the state, big time,” she said. From the large turnout in defense of Priest River veteran John Arnold’s Second Amendment rights in August 2015 to the defeat of a $55 million levy this August, she said “Good things are happening her for one reason: because citizens are starting to understand their power and what they can do to turn things around.”
District one voters have been so successful, she said, that entrenched politicians and lobbyists in Boise are starting to get nervous.
“There’s two parties in Boise: the gravy train party, and the party working for the people,” she said. Every morning, noon, and night, state legislators are wined and dined by lobbyists making sweetheart deals for corporations and special interest groups, she said.
Most legislators are simply too busy, and too overwhelmed by the legislative process, to stand a chance against such a well-funded and appealing onslaught, she said. The solution? Public input prior to, as well as during and after, the annual state legislative session.
Voters shouldn’t be scared off this Nov. 8 by her opponents’ attacks, she said. She stood for the First Amendment when pictured with the Confederate flag, she said, and voted to protect Idaho sovereignty when fighting off international treaty language during last year’s legislative session. The representative dismissed recent allegations about voter intimidation by Scott supporters.
People at the meeting did not ask about those hot-button issues, but instead asked the representative for practical help dealing with veterans’ issues, and how to exercise more influence over Idaho legislation. Levi and Elizabeth Hertzler of Laclede attended because they wanted to learn more about Scott.
“We’ve seen her signs around,” said Elizabeth. Levi added, “We heard good reports of her being conservative and a constitutionalist. That’s what we stand for.”
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