Jason Stooks

Through my faith, my loving family, and the many mentors in my life, I am blessed to have the ability to serve in our community, helping others so they may succeed. I have spent the last 10 plus years working towards building my skills and education so that I may provide others with the same opportunities for success, which I am grateful for.

I have been married for 17 years to my lovely wife and together we have raised a well-rounded successful daughter. I am a small business owner in Moscow and operate a solutions-based business providing emergency preparedness, medical training, personal protection education, and event services in Latah County and the surrounding communities.

Latah is a diverse community of citizens working to achieve their dreams. Latah County Commissioners are employees of the people, and I believe through working together we can help others succeed in Latah County.

Candidate Questions

List your top issues you are promoting as part of your campaign.

-Building relationships and seeking input from the citizens of Latah County is important, I cannot be of service to the people without learning their concerns.

-As Latah County Commissioners, it is our job to ensure decisions are being made for the overall public safety of the people, which begins with allocating funds appropriately to departments so they can do their jobs efficiently.

-County Commissioners can work in collaboration on property tax relief and work with local government on ways to cut spending, this begins with reviewing and prioritizing our spending in county budgets.

Why are you running for County Commissioner?

-As an active community member, in the role of Deputy Program Manager for the Latah County Community Emergency Response Team, I am looking for other ways to be of service to Latah County.

-As a licensed EMT and safety preparedness instructor, I will make it my priority as County Commission to make decisions in the lens of the public safety of the community.

-As a small business owner, County Commissioners need to review budgets just like a business, determining cost savings and what spending we can do without. This way we can cut spending and allocate funds appropriately, ensuring county departments can run efficiently.

What is the primary function of a County Commissioner?

Representing the people's will, Latah County Commissioners have both legislative and executive duties, meaning they enact local ordinances and administer them. They approve budgets for county departments, oversee spending, and hire county employees.

Commissioners have the power to pass ordinances, adopt budgets, set tax levy rates, and oversee the county budget. As Commissioner, what are your ideas to save taxpayers’ money?

This begins with reviewing and prioritizing our spending in county budgets. As County Commissioners, we can determine what spending we can do without, which will save taxpayers’ money.

Describe one way to improve the current budgeting process.

Increase budget line-item transparency. In reviewing the budget, I found questioning line items that did not seem clear to what the spending was for.

Describe your approach to promoting budget transparency for the public.

Meeting with department heads to discuss and ensure that their budgets have clearly outlined line items, so it is simple for the community to read and understand.

In your role as County Commissioner, provide one example of a process or function you will seek to improve.

On average, Latah County Commissioners meet one day a week to complete county business. I will seek to increase my availability and effort needed to make well-thought-out decisions, which includes seeking input from stakeholders.

GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR ALL CANDIDATES

Freedom: Explain your position on First Amendment rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. Do you think these rights have eroded?

Concerns of tech companies controlling, blocking, or censoring information.

Race-Based Politics: Martin Luther King famously stated, “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Also, the Preamble to the Idaho Republican Platform states, “We believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.” What is your perspective on race or sex-based politics?

The best-qualified candidate for the position to be filled.

Illegal Immigration: Over two million immigrants have crossed U.S borders in the last 15 months accompanied with human trafficking, drug trafficking, violent criminals, and potential terrorists that Americans are paying for financially and in other ways. What are your thoughts on local impacts resulting from illegal immigration?

Communicating with Law Enforcement to be prepared for a change, rather than reacting.

Limited Government: Describe your policy position on taxation, spending, and budgeting relative to state or local government?

Minimize spending within the necessary needs and reduce taxes.

Problem Solving: Describe two difficult interactions you have experienced and how you contributed to a resolution?

Disagreements will happen, so having active listening skills and communicating research-based information is helpful.

Republicanism: Do you subscribe to the Idaho Republican Party Platform? Describe any exceptions.

Yes.

Governance: The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” How will this declaration influence you in administering your office, if elected?

It will be the standard in which I measure all decisions, as well as with my faith.