Incumbent Kevin Andrus hopes to secure his seat as representative 35A against Democrat Joseph Messerly
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LAVA HOT SPRINGS — Incumbent Representative Kevin Andrus, a Republican, is running for re-election against Democrat Joseph Messerly for a seat as the representative for District 35A.
The District 35A seat is a two-year term.
Click here to learn more about Andrus.
Click here to learn more about Messerly.
Messerly did not provide responses to EastIdahoNews.com.
EastIdahoNews.com sent the same eight questions to each candidate. Their responses, listed below, were required to be 250 words or less. EastIdahoNews.com is publishing the answers in their entirety, and without any grammatical or style editing.
The general election is Nov. 5.
Candidate Questions & Responses
Tell us about yourself — include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work, and any prior experience in public office.
Andrus: Born and raised on a ranch outside of Lava Hot Springs; graduate of Marsh Valley High School; attended Brigham Young University (Idaho) for B.S. in agriculture business; Idaho State University for M.B.A.; served two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the country of Panama; self-employed as a rancher and horse trainer. Kevin currently resides in Lava with his wife, Shelby, and six children. Kevin is the chairman of the House Agriculture committee and member of the State Affairs and Business committees.
Why are you seeking political office? Briefly explain your political platform.
Andrus: I believe in a limited government that allows people freedom to act as they would like. Government has the tendency to grow to the point of taking away those freedoms. I get great satisfaction in working to protect those freedoms and limit government while providing the necessities for citizens.
What are the greatest challenges facing people and communities in your district? What is your plan to meet those challenges?
Andrus: I feel that Inflation is having a large impact on everyone. Those at the federal level are at fault for this but we at the state can reduce taxes and do our best to cause as little strain as possible.
Have you seen any mistakes made by the Idaho Legislature in recent years? How would you work to correct these errors?
Andrus: I believe that the bill to add mandatory minimums for Fentanyl was a mistake. Yes, it is one of the most dangerous drugs out there and something needed to be done to protect people. I just have concerns with mandatory minimums because the data shows that it really isn’t the inhibitor of bad behavior it is intended to be. One of the major flaws to that bill is that the mandatory minimums also tie the hands of judges to the point that they can’t use discretion to have mercy on a bystander that happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope to see adjustments made to this bill that will…
What parts of the state budget could use more funding? Are there places in the budget where cuts could be made?
Andrus: The first thing that comes to my mind for needing more funding is education. I would like to see the state be fully responsible for education and there would not be bonds and levies to supplant budgets. The less we can put on property taxes the better. This is no easy task, but the State has started on this path with a tax relief bill from a few years ago.
Medicaid costs to the state are growing astronomically. The current cost is multiple times more that it was proposed to be by advocates. It needs to be reduced before it bankrupts our state.
What is your position on Idaho’s Proposition 1 ballot initiative that would end closed-party primary elections and create ranked-choice voting?
Andrus: Opposed. Ranked choice voting is corrupt and numerous ballots are trashed each time it is used. Every vote should count.
What is your position on Gov. Brad Little using Idaho State Police resources to bolster security at the United States southern border? How does illegal immigration impact the constituents in your district?
Andrus: What is happening at the border is criminal. The federal government needs to start doing their job. If they don’t, I can understand states doing their best with the hand they are dealt.
A battle over the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer recharge led to a temporary water curtailment for thousands of acres of farmland in 2024. How should the legislature respond to this issue?
Andrus: First, it depends on if there can be an agreement met, and what it looks like. I believe that if they can agree on something it will be much more valuable than legislation.