Ahlquist gets 'out front' in governor's race

By STEVE CAMERON

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Doctor-turned-businessman Tommy Ahlquist has accomplished plenty in a career that’s seen him double up as a major Treasure Valley developer while working occasional shifts as an emergency room physician at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center.

Now Ahlquist has his sights set on another job.

He wants to be governor of Idaho, and visited The Press Thursday as part of a state tour to introduce himself as a candidate.

Ahlquist will join what appears to be a crowded Republican primary next May, with Lt. Gov. Brad Little certain to be involved, along with Russ Fulcher and perhaps 1st District U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador.

“I think they’ll all run,” Ahlquist said. “People keep asking me if I’m to the right of this person or the left of that person, so my answer is that I’m in front of all of them.”

Ahlquist certainly has the chops as a small businessman and big-time developer, having put together a deal to build the Zion’s Bank Tower in downtown Boise on the spot that for 25 years was simply a gaping hole.

“I’ve done deals where I had to acquire houses, and it meant I’d be running around to visit landowners in my (doctor’s) scrubs,” Ahlquist said. “But I want to get the message out that we have a lot of people like that in Idaho, people who can get things done. Sometimes the state should help, but sometimes the state just needs to get out of the way.”

The Utah native and former Ricks College basketball player describes his chaotic life as a practicing doctor and entrepreneur by saying, “Sleep has never been a big part of my plans.”

Although he’s never run for public office at any level, Ahlquist is positive he’s up to the task of becoming Idaho’s chief executive.

“I’ve been on various company boards and dealt with the Legislature on different levels,” he said. “I understand health care from being on the inside, and I know all about the challenges of running a business because I’ve done it.”

Ahlquist was keen to point out areas where he believes Idaho can do better, beginning with infrastructure and education.

“Infrastructure is the elephant in the room,” he said. “To fix our roads and bridges, we need money — and that has to come from a bigger tax base.

“We can achieve that by improving our education system, because we’re not getting enough when you realize it’s getting 63 percent of the state budget. By producing a better and deeper workforce, we can bring businesses to the state.

“Look, I think Butch (Gov. Butch Otter) has done a good job, taking us through a recession. But after a time, you need new people who will look around and ask: ‘What are we doing here? What about here?’

“That’s where the state is right now, and I can be the person who can ask the right questions – and get results from it.”