Nicole LeFavour

Background:

I grew up in rural central Idaho and ran for the Idaho legislature in 2004 as Idaho's first openly gay candidate for state office. That year, thanks in part to now Chairman Dean and DFA members and donors, I won a 3 way primary race against a former legislator and an up and coming Democratic party leader. For four years I have served in the Idaho legislature, taking a leadership tole on tax accountability issues. I have crafted and gathered many Republican co-sponsors for legislation allowing judges to impose more effective drug treatment in place of long mandatory minimum sentences in order to reduce prison overcrowding, strengthen families and improve public safety.

I am a teacher who has worked for years teaching writing to at-risk students and worked hard to craft and gain bi-partisan support to pass legislation to offer mental health and substance abuse specialist counselors to Idaho schools to address teen suicide and meth addiction problems in local communities.

Goals:

I am excited to run for the State Senate this year as I welcome the challenges of working more closely with my Senate colleagues in both parties. I have been a visible and hard working member of the house, where i feel I have changed minds which I hope will lead to improvements in Idaho law as well. I am dedicated to equality and committed to human rights and have worked on improving the rights of people with disabilities, Latinos and immigrants, women, people living in poverty and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. We have much work to do and I want to be there to continue to give it everything I've got.

Issues:

** Standing up to insurance companies to lower health care costs for Idaho small business, families and individuals

** Improving public transportation to protect the livability of our communities, to improve air quality and, as gas prices soar, to provide less expensive alternatives to driving on crowded streets and freeways

** Lowering property taxes by making new growth and development pay for itself

Grassroots Support:

I have been called one of the best grassroots campaigners in the state of Idaho. In 2004 when I was elected to the legislature I was awarded Best Grass Roots Leader of the Year by the progressive coalition, United Vision for Idaho. I currently have two interns managing a volunteer door knocking canvas that, in our small legislative district, has 15 volunteers and candidates on the ground each week, identifying voters by party and candidate, from County Commission to Senator Obama in his race for President. I typically have over 300 fabulous active volunteers in an election year. I do extensive leadership development and love watching new grass roots leaders grow!

DFA Values:

Socially Progressive:

Typically I lead House floor debate for my caucus on tough issues form immigration and gay rights to mental health and tax issues as they impact those in poverty.

Fiscally Responsible:

1) I have supported spending state dollars on preventative programs and on education to reduce the need for more prison construction and emergency medical and housing assistance. Many of the growing parts of our budget are due to shortsighted lack of investment in prevention.

2) I am one of a hand full of legislators in the Idaho House or Senate to vote against borrowing millions against projected future federal highway funds to build freeways and overpasses at the expense of simple highway maintenance projects statewide. GARVEE highway borrowing has since drained our highway funding (to pay for debt service) and has been found to have favored certain construction companies hand picked for tens of millions in taxpayer dollars.

3) I was also one of the very few legislators to vote against expanding our State Capitol Building to add two new underground wings for legislative offices. The renovation of the existing Capitol I would have supported, but to spend a hundred million to build fancy offices for part time legislators when our school kids work 9 months in trailers, did not seem right.

4) Finally, I have led efforts and introduced legislation to increase tax accountability so that Idaho does not simply give away tax dollars for economic development but asks in return that companies create new jobs with good wages and health care benefits.