Jane Sauter

Profession: Homemaker

Education: High School Graduate, Associates Degree in Theology

Residency: 10 years, Bonner County 

Contact: janesauterforidaho.com

1. My first priority will be taking a hard look at state spending, identifying waste, and determining where taxpayer dollars can be better used. I'll work toward eliminating property and grocery taxes, protecting constitutional rights, and ensuring essential services receive the funding they need. I'll also meet with local leaders to better understand the challenges facing Bonner and Boundary Counties. I'm not going to Boise to grow government. I'm going to make it more accountable to the people it serves. 

2. My first priority will be taking a hard look at state spending, identifying waste, and determining where taxpayer dollars can be better used. I'll work toward eliminating property and grocery taxes, protecting constitutional rights, and ensuring essential services receive the funding they need. I'll also meet with local leaders to better understand the challenges facing Bonner and Boundary Counties. I'm not going to Boise to grow government. I'm going to make it more accountable to the people it serves. 

3. First, rein in government spending, eliminate waste, and pursue meaningful tax relief, including eliminating property and grocery taxes. Second, strengthen rural healthcare by reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers and encouraging innovative, locally driven solutions. Third, improve education by directing more resources to classrooms, supporting parental choice, and demanding accountability for measurable results. These solutions require us to rethink how government operates, not simply throw more money at problems.

4. People move to North Idaho because of what makes it special. We shouldn't sacrifice those very qualities to accommodate growth. I support protecting private property rights, respecting local decision-making, and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development. Growth must be managed with consideration for our roads, water resources, emergency services, and taxpayers. Decisions should be made as close to the people affected as possible, not dictated by Boise. We can welcome new neighbors without losing the character of the communities we love. 

5. The long-term consequences of unchecked government spending. We spend considerable time debating how much money individual programs receive, but not nearly enough asking whether those programs are effective, necessary, or duplicative. Every dollar wasted is a dollar unavailable for essential services or tax relief. We cannot continue growing government indefinitely and expect Idaho families to shoulder the burden. Fiscal responsibility isn't just about balancing a budget. It's about respecting the people who pay for it. 

6. By being accessible, listening, and remembering who I work for. I want regular communication with constituents, opportunities for face-to-face conversations, and honest discussions about legislation before important votes. I welcome questions and differing opinions. You don't have to agree with me on everything to deserve my attention and respect. I will make decisions based on constitutional principles, careful consideration of the facts, and what's best for the people of District 1. You will always know where I stand and why.

7. Absolutely. I believe we should always be willing to reconsider our positions when presented with new information or perspectives we hadn't considered. Listening to people directly affected by government decisions can reveal consequences that aren't immediately obvious. My fundamental principles haven't changed, but I'm willing to reconsider how best to put those principles into practice. There's a difference between standing firm in your convictions and being unwilling to learn. I believe a good representative must be capable of both listening and learning.

8. I believe Idahoans should be able to own their homes without paying the government indefinitely for that privilege. My goal is to eliminate property taxes while protecting essential services. State legislators must develop a responsible framework for reform, while county officials must scrutinize spending and identify legitimate local needs. Roads, law enforcement, and emergency services matter, but so does affordability. We need to work together to reduce unnecessary spending and develop sustainable funding solutions rather than simply shifting the burden onto taxpayers somewhere else.

9. I'm not running because I believe government needs more power. I'm running because I believe the people deserve more say over their lives and their hard-earned money. I will stand for limited government, fiscal responsibility, protecting life, parental rights, and the constitutional freedoms we cherish. North Idaho is my home, and preserving what makes it special matters a great deal to me. I would be honored to earn your trust and your vote on November 3.