Lifelong local educator Gary Marshall announces run for Idaho legislature
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IDAHO FALLS — A former eastern Idaho educator has announced he is running for the Idaho State House of Representatives.
This week, Gary Marshall of Osgood, said will run for the District 30A Seat. Marshall is challenging incumbent Jeff Thompson who has been in office since 2008.
Marshall spent his career in education. He has worked at the junior high and high school levels as a teacher and administrator for 12 years. Since then he spent 27 years as faculty at Ricks College, and subsequently Brigham Young University-Idaho, teaching American Heritage and history.
“I told 26,000 young people they ought to get involved,” Marshall told EastIdahoNews.com. “So, it’s my turn. It’s my turn to step-up and get involved.”
In a news release, Marshall said he is committed to making sure he does his best to understand the issues, listen carefully and study each and every piece of legislation that comes before the House. He said he will ask the question “do we need this new law.”
He said while he doesn’t have any specific agendas, education is one area he intends to focus on.
“I want to do everything I can to help Idaho attract and retain good teachers,” Marshall said.
Having grown up on a farm, agriculture is another area of focus for him.
“I want to make sure the ag community can do what they do in an environment of economic freedom,” he explained.
According to the news release, he and his wife Ramona have seven children and 37 grandchildren. All of whom live in Idaho. He grew up in Idaho where he worked with his father on their family farm. He continues to operate a small farm, but has also worked with his sons building houses. While attending graduate school he worked as a technical writer and project manager at INL.
Marshall has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History, with a secondary education certification from Brigham Young University. He also has a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Brigham Young University and two years of graduate work at Idaho State University in Political Science and Economics.