Cornel Rasor, District 1B

Full name: Cornel S. Rasor

Profession: Retail store owner

Educational background: 1 yr. College (NIC and U. of I.)

How many years as a Bonner County resident: 57

Marital status: 49 years to Kimn Rasor

Family: 3 children, 16 grandchildren

Website: cornelforidaho.com

1. My top priorities will be continued targeted tax relief for Idaho citizens, delivering savings to as many families as possible. I will push for spending cuts in non-essential areas to address the budget shortfall, while strengthening local control by limiting state mandates on counties and cities where needed. I will also advance school safety measures protecting girls’ privacy in facilities and parental rights. These actions focus on fiscal restraint, constitutional limits, and practical relief for Bonner County families.

2. The three most significant issues are: (1) Idaho’s ongoing budget crisis, with revenue shortfalls threatening core services while spending has grown faster than population and inflation; (2) erosion of local control balanced against true respect for real property rights (3) education quality and safety, where achievement lags in key areas despite rising funding, and parental rights plus student privacy face challenges.

These matter most because they directly impact family finances, community self-governance, and the future of our children in Bonner County.

3. For the budget crisis, I will prioritize zero-based budgeting reviews, eliminate waste in non-core programs, and reject new taxes, building on the Governor’s “Enduring Idaho” austerity approach. On local control, I will sponsor/support bills prohibiting unfunded mandates and that restore or continue respect for property rights. For education, I support performance-based funding, expanded school choice via tax credits (not vouchers), and clear protections for single-sex facilities and parental notification. These targeted, constitutional solutions deliver relief without expanding government.

4. The most critical issue is restoring fiscal discipline amid the state’s budget shortfall. Uncontrolled spending threatens tax relief, infrastructure, and essential services for Bonner County families. My plan: demand line-by-line audits of every agency, enforce strict prioritization of core constitutional functions, and tie future budgets to revenue reality; no new debt or taxes. I have already voted for tax conformity relief and evaluated dozens of bills through a limited-government lens. Voters can trust my proven record of scrutinizing every appropriation for necessity and effectiveness.

5. Sound money and protection against federal overreach via programmable currency or digital surveillance. Too few candidates discuss how inflation and federal monetary policy erode Idaho families’ savings and local economic freedom. It is vital because Idaho’s Constitution and our values demand we defend honest money: gold and silver, where possible, and reject federal tools that could track or control private transactions. I have consistently evaluated bills against principles of true money and limited government. Without vigilance here, we risk losing the economic liberty that defines Idaho.

6. I will attend after-session open town halls/forums in Bonner County and invite all residents—regardless of party to discuss issues based on shared Idaho values: limited government, personal responsibility, and constitutional rights. I focus legislation on common-sense solutions like tax relief, school safety, and local control that benefit every family, not partisan fights. By transparently sharing bill evaluations and voting records rooted in principle rather than politics, I build trust. Division fades when government stays small, accountable, and focused on what unites us as Idahoans.

7. I will help guide Idaho through the crisis by insisting on zero-based budgeting for every agency, forcing justification of every dollar spent. We must cut non-essential programs, reject new spending initiatives, and enforce the “Enduring Idaho” commitment to no new debt. I have already supported tax relief measures and scrutinized bills for fiscal impact. Prioritize core functions, public safety, education basics, and infrastructure, while returning surplus to taxpayers when possible. Bonner County families deserve a legislature that lives within its means, just as they do.

8. The state government’s role must be strictly limited to the Idaho Constitution: protecting individual rights, enforcing laws, providing basic infrastructure, and ensuring quality K-12 education without supplanting parental authority. It should not micromanage local governments, expand social programs beyond necessity, or interfere in private economic decisions. Specifically, the state should defend local control for counties, cities, and sheriffs; promote fiscal restraint; and block federal overreach. There may be limited situations when using state authority sparingly to prevent chaos or rights violations would be necessary, but anything beyond these enumerated duties belongs to individuals, families, churches, and local communities, not Boise.

9. Local control is critically important, second only to individual liberty. Cities, counties, and sheriffs best understand their communities’ unique needs and should retain authority over land use, public safety, and local ordinances without unfunded state mandates. I have fought against bills that erode this principle. When the state overrides local officials, it creates inefficiency, resentment, and one-size-fits-all policies that fail rural areas like Bonner County. Strong local control keeps government closest to the people, most accountable, and most responsive. In limited cases, it may be necessary for the state to step in to prevent chaos, rights violations, and checkerboard regulations that leave citizens unsure of the law.

10. Every candidate should be asked: “What is the proper, constitutional role of state government, and how will you limit it?” My answer: The state’s role is strictly limited to protecting life, liberty, and property; enforcing contracts; providing essential infrastructure and basic education; and defending against federal overreach. I will limit it by opposing new programs, demanding spending justification, and always asking: “Is this a state function, or should it remain local or private?” Voters deserve representatives who shrink government, not grow it.

11. Choose me because I have a proven track record of evaluating every bill through the lens of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the Idaho Constitution. I have supported tax relief for working families, protected local control, advanced school safety, and scrutinized spending amid budget shortfalls. I attend your concerns in committees and town halls, not just during campaigns. I will continue delivering practical results—lower taxes, safer schools, stronger communities—without expanding Boise’s reach. Bonner County deserves a voice that puts principle and people first.