Elections are over. Whether the candidate you voted for was successful or not, the important thing is, you voted. The 15 th amendment of the
United States Constitution and Article 1 Section 19 of the Idaho Constitution guarantee your right to vote. It is a right that should never be taken for granted.

Last session there was an attempt to rewrite the ballot initiative process (SJR101), making it incredibly difficult for the public to place an issue on the ballot for Idahoans to vote on. Thankfully, that attempt failed. My number one priority is protecting our right to vote – our right to have a voice in what we call the democratic process. It was very encouraging to see so many of our Wood River Valley youth involved with the election process this November. A big shout out to educator Heidi Husbands for her passion in teaching the next generation about our form of government, including the importance of having thoughtful dialogue amongst ourselves and remembering that disagreeing with someone does not make them the enemy. It makes them a source of
information. I like to remind myself that no matter how thin the line might be, there always two sides of it. It is helpful to see things from more than one perspective when making decisions.

—————continued from Magic Valley News, December issue page

While our Democratic Republic might not be perfect, it sure is better than any other form of government I have yet come across.  For those people who chose to run for office, I thank you. Please stay engaged with the issues that prompted you to run. It is that kind of participation that makes our democracy work. To quote Heidi, “politics is not for the weary at heart”. It is time consuming, exhausting, expensive, but very worthwhile.