OSBURN — U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher joined Republican candidates from across Shoshone County and North Idaho on Tuesday at the Silver Valley Event Center for a forum to discuss issues ranging from property taxes and public safety to federal land management and the role of government. 

Fulcher, state legislators Heather Scott, Phil Hart and Dale Hawkins, and county candidates Shawn Wehr, Julie Hernandez and Robert Savage each addressed attendees before participating in a brief question-and-answer session. 

Hernandez, challenging incumbent Rick Smith for Shoshone County coroner, said she is running because she believes public service is among the highest callings a person can pursue and that she wants to model that commitment for her children. 

"I believe if you want to see change, you need to step up and serve," she said. 

Savage, who is running against Democrat Katie Murray for Shoshone County assessor, said he wants to bring change to the office and ensure county residents are treated fairly regardless of their political or personal beliefs. 

A full-time contractor, Savage said he has seen too many people lose their homes because of taxes tied to what he believes are inflated property valuations. 

"I want to make sure people are being fairly assessed," Savage said. "I don't care if you are a Christian conservative or a Satanic atheist that is a liberal. Please understand that after 54 years of a Democratically ran assessor's office I think it's time for change." 

Shoshone County Sheriff Shawn Wehr, running unopposed in the upcoming election, used his time to review his accomplishments since being appointed in April. 

Those accomplishments include fully staffing the sheriff's office dispatch center, adding new patrol and detention deputies, emphasizing jail maintenance, revamping the department's search-and-rescue team and carrying over roughly $800,000 from the previous budget year into fiscal year 2027. 

State lawmakers Hawkins, Scott and Hart each highlighted their work in the Idaho Legislature, priorities for another term and vision for the state. 

Hawkins is running against Democrat Sabine Krier for Idaho House District 2, Seat B. Scott faces Democrat Birgid Niedenzu in House District 2, Seat A, while Democrat Val Wade opposes Hart in the race for Idaho Senate District 2. 

Topics discussed included the national debt, affordable housing and efforts to restore constitutional principles to government. 

Fulcher closed the presentations by praising the work being done at the local and state levels and noting that fellow lawmakers in Washington, D.C., often tell him how fortunate he is to represent Idaho. 

"We live in the greatest state in the country," Fulcher said. "There's not a week that goes by where somebody doesn't say, 'I wish I had in my state, what you do in Idaho.'" 

Democrat Kaylee Peterson, independent Sarah Zabel and Constitution Party candidate Brendan Gomez are challenging Fulcher. 

Among Fulcher's key topics was the relationship between federal, state and local officials. He noted that more than half of Idaho is federally managed land, requiring regular coordination between different levels of government. 

Federal land management remains one of the key issues Fulcher and other members of Congress address each year as they seek funding through programs such as Payments in Lieu of Taxes, or PILT, and Secure Rural Schools, or SRS. 

Those programs help offset the impact of untaxable federal lands and provide support for services such as schools and roads. 

"That's part of the challenge," Fulcher said. "It's part of the dynamic that we have and it's a blessing. Those federal lands are an absolute blessing. We want to keep those even more public than they are, but that's just part of the dynamic we struggle with." 

Fulcher also discussed partisanship in Washington and concerns that Democrats could regain control of the House and Senate in the upcoming election. 

He said roughly half of elected officials support a more limited government operating within the Constitution and founded on Christianity. In contrast, the other half believe government needs a larger role. 

While acknowledging both sides make compelling arguments, Fulcher said he subscribes to the former view. 

    Shoshone County Sheriff Shawn Wehr highlighted his department's successes during the recent candidate forum in Osburn.