I’m Dan
English and I’ve filed for the position of State Representative, District 2,
Seat B, currently held by Representative Phil Hart. I’m well aware of my odds in this
race. Running as a Democrat in
Kootenai County, let alone in a district that has been judged to be among the
reddest of the red districts in Idaho is an uphill climb at best.
This isn’t
the most convenient time given the demands of family and vocation. Contrary to
popular opinion, I’m not retired and in fact often put in very long but
satisfying days on behalf of the kids and families served by Twin Lakes Friends
Camp.
I’m not sure
public service, especially when called upon to run for public office, is very
convenient for anyone these days. It
can come at a significant personal and even financial toll. And based on the number of people
willing to put their name on the ballot in either party compared to those that
could or at least those who regularly complain about their government, you would
have to say most aren’t willing to pay the price. But that is the price that must be paid
if we want our Representative Republic that is based on the Democratic process
of free and open elections to thrive and survive.
This is
America and we are free to believe what we want. In most cases, we are free to act on
those beliefs as well. But I don’t
think someone should be free to run term after term unchallenged when their
belief and practices about our tax laws are so far out of line with ordinary,
hard-working taxpayers who play by the rules, who pay their fair share, and
expect everyone else to do the same.
They especially demand that anyone who draws a paycheck & benefits
from those hard earned tax dollars to have enough respect for them to do the
same.
I’ve had the
privilege of winning the public’s trust and holding public office on several
occasions, just like Representative Hart.
I’ve taken my oath of office very seriously as well as the trust that was
placed in me. I imagine Mr. Hart
must feel he does the same. But
that’s about as far as the similarities go. I can only think we must be made out of
different stuff at our core. Because I can’t imagine wanting to even give the
appearance that I was somehow using the fact of being an elected office holder
as a shield to avoid, or in any manner delay the responsibilities and timelines
that every other ordinary tax payer must abide by.
I understand
there are special privileges that lawmakers enjoy but I just can’t believe the
framers of our state constitution ever had in mind that those privileges would
someday be used to enable Mr. Hart’s tax avoidance behavior. That is why I chose to make my
announcement today in front of the Idaho State Tax Commission instead of a more
traditional setting to draw attention to the apparent differences in our beliefs
and behavior.
I do realize
that Mr. Hart may not even be in the race in November. In fact, at last check he hadn’t even
filed to be in the race in May. But
then, my candidacy is not just about Mr. Hart.
In Kootenai County, the decisions for
most of our elected officials are made by a quite small percentage of the
registered voters in the Republican Primary Election. In most cases, if they even have an
opponent, it is all over in May.
When the majority of the voters come out to make their choice, especially
in Presidential years when the turnout is over 85%, they find they actually have
no choice at all. I think that
problem will be even more acute this year given our new closed primary
law.
Democrats
have been criticized for not fielding enough candidates for the ballot. As a Democrat I have accepted that
challenge. I feel very strongly
about making sure the voters have actual choices for candidates on their ballot,
especially in the November General Election. It has been 10 years since there has
even been a contested race on the General Election Ballot in this
district.
So no matter
who I face in November, I think the voters in District 2 will best be served by
having a choice instead of so many of our voters not having anyone to represent
them.
And how are
your legislators representing you these days? Are you happy with all the time, effort,
and expense they are using to debate one-sided partisan bills and resolutions
that do nothing to improve the daily lives of ordinary working and struggling
people? Especially when so often
they are told by their own Attorney General and other legal advisers that many
of these laws are unconstitutional and expensive wastes of time and money. But they continue to spend time and
money on special legislation that are the equivalent of form letters to the
editor and Congress for their party faithful. That’s fine if they want to band
together and do that on their time and their nickel but don’t be doing it on our
time or our dime! The burn rate of
the legislature is about $30,000 a day and this is no time for those kinds of
wasteful expenditures. I don’t know
about you, but that is certainly not what I elected them to do!
The three
core issues that will be most important to me are the same issues that I think
most voters are concerned about.
They include quality education that benefits all of our citizens, strong
economic policies that focus on job creation, and the expectation of high
ethical standards for our elected officials.
In the end, I
believe it all boils down to just one question for the voters and good people of
District two…ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE OF HART? If you are then please support my
candidacy with your time, efforts, financial contributions, and your
prayers. So
if you’ve Had Your Fill then Vote for Dan English, Legislative District 2 this
November. Thank You.
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