Jim Woodward, District 1 Senate

Full name: Jim Woodward

Profession: Local contractor specializing in rocks and docks

Educational background: University of Idaho BS Mechanical Engineering

How many years as a Bonner County resident: 29 yrs in Bonner County / 16 yrs in Boundary County

Marital status: Happy

Family: Two adult children, one youthful mother

Website: woodwardforsenate.org

QUESTIONS:

1. I have two primary goals. Both relate to the property tax, which both go back to affordability. The first is to raise the homeowner’s property tax exemption. The original intent of Idaho citizens was that only half the value of you home be taxed. With the current $125,000 cap on the homeowner’s exemption, we are far from that.

Second, I will continue my work to fund public schools from the state, to remove the burden from property tax payers.

2. We are falling behind in providing the basics of state services. Public safety, education, and transportation are not meeting the demands of our increasing population growth. Just as an example, in the last twenty years, our population has grown by 33%. In that same time, we have only added 1.9% to the capacity of our highway system. It’s no wonder we struggle just to pull on the highway and hope we can do it safely.

3. We have to prioritize our funding to provide those basic services. Currently, 25% of our Idaho State Patrol trooper positions are not filled because we are not providing a competitive salary. If there is one item that state government should provide, it is basic safety for the people of Idaho. We need to adequately pay our troopers to recruit and retain them.

How we fund our schools is under review. I have been part of the process and will continue to work on the school funding formula. Again, it is prioritization of funds.

The income tax cut last year was a $253 million reduction to the state budget. We were forced to cut the transportation budget by the same amount or a little more to balance the budget. We cannot continue to cut the income tax rate if we want to have an adequate transportation system. We will be living off the backs of our children as we wear out the current system and leave them nothing.

4. Whether or not we plan to address the issues of Idaho in 2026 is the most critical issue. I love to think about the good old days in northern Idaho as much as anyone, but I’ve watched the population double in my lifetime, industries evolve, and our political thoughts change. I still want to leave an Idaho for our children to enjoy and prosper in like we have.

5. It is important to know where the money is coming from in this campaign. Any time a person sees a political ad, please look at the “Paid for by….” statement that is required on all political pieces. Looks at the postmarks on mailed pieces also. Knowing who is trying to influence us is very helpful in deciding which candidate to support. As an example, you’ll see the claim that I am supported by out-of-state PACs, but those are local companies with Spokane offices. Avista, Stimson, and Clearwater Paper are Idaho companies. On the other hand, mailings from Texas and Virginia are something entirely different.

6. Bringing people together often starts with just reaching out. If you’re not talking and listening, you’re not understanding a different perspective.

7. As the Vice Chairman of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, I am doing everything I can to move us in the right direction to stabilize the Idaho budget and return to the core of our budgeting process that has worked so well for us for five decades. In the past four years, politics has crept into our budget process. We must return to analyzing department budgets one-by-one, instead of an omnibus style budgeting approach.

8. Government should take on the tasks we cannot perform as individuals. For state government, it starts with those basic services I’ve already mentioned: public safety including state law enforcement and wildland firefighting, our public schools, community colleges, and universities, and a transportation system. I will continue to focus on these core areas of state government.

9. I am a vocal advocate for local control. The best decision for any person is the one they make themselves. When we move to public decision-making, the best decisions are those made closest to home. Every town and county in Idaho is different with different circumstances. The great people in those towns, who know how to make their own decisions, are the common denominator.

10. How many public entities (State, city, and county) have you sued in your lifetime? My answer is zero. I find a solution. I don’t create more problems.

11. This election is about representation by someone who understands the community and is working to support you, our local organizations, our towns, and our counties OR someone who is routinely at the center of whatever the current conflict is, someone who sues his fellow taxpayers, and someone who has blatant disregard for 51% of the population.

I am asking to represent you, not tell you how to live your life. I hope to earn your vote on May 19th.