Emma Rae and Ron James are running for Teton County Commissioner 3

DRIGGS – Republican Ron James is running against Democrat Emma Rae for Teton District 3 Commissioner.

Bob Henage is a current member of the commission and is not running for re-election. The term of office is four years.

To learn more about Ray, visit her website.

To learn more about James, visit his website. James did not respond to EastIdahoNews.com.

EastIdahoNews.com sent the same eight questions to each candidate. Responses must be 250 words or less.

General elections – November 5.

Tell us about yourself — include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work, and any previous public service experience.

Ray: Since moving to the valley nine years ago, I have made it a priority to be an active member of the community both personally and professionally. I am a former science teacher at Teton High School, currently serve on the board of Teton Valley Housing and Teton Valley Community Recycling, work at the Driggs Farmers Market on a local farm, and am the primary caregiver for my two-year-old daughter, Poppy. My husband, Tucker, and I started a volunteer program through the library, providing STEM activities for kids, which eventually grew into our beloved Makerspace. I have volunteered with many local organizations, from food pantries to school garden programs, and I am passionate about helping young people get involved in local politics. As for my education, I have a bachelor’s degree in biology and a teaching diploma in physics.

Why are you seeking political office? Briefly explain your political platform.

Ray: I am running for County Commissioner to help Teton Valley remain a strong rural community. We are strongest when our workforce has housing, families have the care they need, and businesses are thriving. I also believe we need to respect our rural roots and protect local food, water and wildlife. This is a truly unique place that needs the active participation of local leaders. Another of my main goals is to help more people understand how local government affects their lives and how they can get involved. I envision a long-term civic engagement effort that will raise the people of our valley to be the informed, engaged leaders of the future.

What areas in your country need immediate improvement? What actions will you take to meet these needs?

Ray: One of the most urgent issues is accessibility. We live in a housing crisis, a childcare desert and a local economy that is vulnerable to the ups and downs of the tourism and real estate industries. Ordinary people are being pushed out of our community by wealthy outside interests who are exploiting our valley for profit. I believe our local government needs to take an active role in protecting the fabric of our community in the face of this wave of change. We must increase the resilience of our community. In particular, I will support our employees and their families by continuing to work with partners such as Teton Valley Housing, the Teton Valley Collaborative for Early Learning, the Teton Regional Economic Coalition and the governments of our three cities. I will pursue creative public-private partnerships that help make housing, childcare and good-paying jobs more accessible to local residents. When families thrive, our community as a whole becomes healthier and better able to meet the needs of everyone from babies to seniors.

What are the biggest long-term problems facing people in your country? What is your plan to address these challenges?

Ray: One of the main long-term tasks is to protect the valuable natural resources of our valley. We live in an incredible place with unique wildlife and recreational opportunities. I will carefully consider proposed developments, including their environmental impact and mitigation and open space conservation options. I think we have to be very deliberate in how we grow. Growth is inevitable and we can play an active role in ensuring that new developments are held accountable for their impact on our infrastructure, water quality and quantity, farmland and wildlife habitat. Fortunately, policies that make environmental sense also make financial sense for the county, which will be prepared to be unable to provide the services it needs if the rural parts of the county start to experience uncontrolled development. Therefore, we must protect the current Land Code.

How will you best represent the views of your constituents – even those with different political views? How will you communicate directly with voters?

Ray: Above all, I will be fully committed to the job of County Commissioner so that I can do it fairly. I believe county commissioners need to take the time to be properly informed about the issues, including how their constituents feel. I will be a real, empathetic listener. I will work to build and restore relationships with underrepresented people who face additional barriers to participating in local issues, but whose voices are just as important to our success as a community. In addition to being available by phone, email and face-to-face meetings, I will take a proactive approach to communicating with the public. As I mentioned, I also plan to create a long-term citizen engagement initiative that will help educate the large number of people who are too busy making ends meet to pay attention to what’s going on in their local government, let alone form an opinion about it and somehow to hear this thought. We need to remove these deeper barriers before we can hear a true cross-section of views through traditional means like public comments and town halls.

For which parts of the regional budget could more funds be allocated? Are there places in the budget where cuts can be made?

Ray: There are so many areas in the budget where more funds could be allocated. Each department has its own needs. We compete with surrounding communities when it comes to hiring and retaining staff, so more funding is needed for salaries and benefits. Our infrastructure could certainly use more funding. Our partners working on issues like domestic violence, food security, affordable housing, etc. could use more funding. The regional budget is simply very stingy. Unfortunately, the county’s budgeting process is heavily constrained by the state, which allocates most available funds to specific needs, limits the ability of counties to set aside money, and limits any increase in the county’s property tax budget to three percent per year. This leaves little room for local leaders to “move the buck” to solve problems. When it comes to cuts, looking at our district budget, I can’t find an area that I feel comfortable taking away from. I think the county provides a lot of basic services on a very limited budget.

What is your position on Idaho’s Proposition 1 ballot initiative, which would eliminate closed party primaries and create ranked-choice voting?

Ray: I support this ballot initiative. I think it will help us move away from the divisiveness of our political party system.

As your county’s population increases, what immediate and long-term issues need to be addressed to better support growth and expansion?

Ray: As I’ve discussed, I believe the key immediate and long-term challenges are preserving the fabric of our community and protecting our incredible natural resources in the face of rapid growth. We need local leaders who will play an active role in ensuring that our extraordinary rural community can withstand the huge changes that are already happening to us. Please visit emmarayfortetoncounty.com for more information or to contact me. I would love to hear from you!