Candidates for 2020-2021 IAC Board of Directors

15 Sep 2020, by Kristin Cundiff Share :

According to the IAC Bylaws and the rotation schedule for elections, a coroner is eligible to run as the IAC 2nd Vice President (formerly Secretary/Treasurer) for the upcoming year (October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021).

Each candidate completed an application so they could share a little about themselves and why they are interested in the position. Candidates will also have a few minutes to speak at our virtual IAC Annual Business meeting in September and voting will take place electronically during the meeting.

Candidates for 2nd Vice President

Summarize your background and how it relates to the position you are seeking.

I have been the coroner for Minidoka County since 2009. I have always enjoyed working in the public sector. I have 15 years of law enforcement experience which has given me an insight of how local government works.

List participation and years of participation on any IAC Committees, the IAC Board of Directors, and any leadership positions within your affiliate organization.
  • Member of the IAC Legislative Committee for two years.
  • Current President of the Idaho State Association of County Coroners
  • Served as Chair for the ISACC Education Committee for one year
Briefly state your reasons for seeking the position and any other qualifications that might be an asset to IAC.

Since this is the year for a Coroner to seek the position of 2nd Vice President, I felt I needed to step forward and be a representative for the coroners in IAC. I have served as Past President of the Kiwanis club and LT Gov for Kiwanis in the southern Idaho area. I have served on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Association of Pupil Transportation and the Idaho Trucking Association. I have been the Chair of the Minidoka Republican Central Committee, a position held for 4 years. I feel I have the natural ability to step up and be a leader among the groups I become involved with and I would do the same with IAC. I am currently semi-retired and would be able to devote the time needed to fulfill this position for the next 4 years.

List IAC/NACo/WIR events/conferences/meetings

I always felt that IAC was for all the other elected officials, but since learning it isn’t I have tried to be involved in the last two years. If elected 2nd Vice President, I would encourage other coroners to become more involved either on a local or on a state level.

Summarize your background and how it relates to the position you are seeking.

I have been the Ada County Coroner since January 2015. I believe that success to our affiliate association requires involvement and active participation with both IAC and NACo. I have been active with all three associations for years and will continue to be an active voice for coroners throughout the state and the nation. We are essential to counties everywhere and need to be involved. I have the staff to support our case volume, allowing me to attend necessary meetings and be an active voice and member.

List participation and years of participation on any IAC Committees, the IAC Board of Directors, and any leadership positions within your affiliate organization.
  • Idaho State Coroner Association; Served as President, Vice President, Secretary, Board Member as Immediate Past President, Education Committee Chair, Education Committee Member since 2015,
  • NACO; Health and Human Services Committee, Health Steering Committee-Co Chair, Resilient Counties Committee Member, Rural Caucus, WIR, Healthy Counties Initiative Board.
  • IAC; Board Member (Coroner Rep), Ethics Committee, Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Chair, Health and Human Services Committee, Legislative Committee (Coroner Rep)
Briefly state your reasons for seeking the position and any other qualifications that might be an asset to IAC.

I am actively involved in my state association, IAC, and NACO. I believe that coroner representation is essential in moving our industry forward and gaining coroner participation in IAC and NACO. I would be an asset to IAC with my knowledge of not only our industry but also legislative efforts of both IAC and NACO.

List IAC/NACo/WIR events/conferences/meetings
  • IAC Spring and Fall Conference every year since 2015
  • NACO Legislative Conference 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
  • NACO WIR 2017, 2016, 2015 (missed 2018)
  • NACO Annual 2017, 2016, 2015, (Missed 2018-same week as Coroner IACME)

NACo Representative Candidate

Summarize your background and how it relates to the position you are seeking.

35 years farming, 8 years on county FSA board and 8 years as County Commissioner. The past 8 years as Commissioner have taught me leadership skills, the importance of good policy and the value of effective lobbying.

List participation and years of participation on any IAC Committees, the IAC Board of Directors, and any leadership positions within your affiliate organization.

3 years on IAC Board, Scholarship committee on IAC board, Vice chair of Public Lands committee, 1 year on NACo board, NACo public lands committee, IAC Solid Waste Working Group, IAC Property Tax Advisory Working Group.

Briefly state your reasons for seeking the position and any other qualifications that might be an asset to IAC.

I was asked to fill in after the last NACo representative retired last September. I have enjoyed my time on the IAC board and feel like I have a lot to offer as the NACo representative. The relationship between NACo and IAC is similar to the relationship between IAC and individual counties. Counties rely on IAC to lobby the state legislature and IAC relies on NACo to lobby the national legislature. In my brief experience with NACo, I have learned that there are a lot of programs and opportunities that I can share with counties and with IAC. Some of the important issues that NACo are currently involved in is emergency funding for the COVID-19 pandemic, PILT and SRS funding.

List IAC/NACo/WIR events/conferences/meetings

I have been to every IAC conference the last 8 years. NACo conference in Nebraska in December and the NACo Legislative conference in Washington D.C. in February. Attended WIR conference in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

WIR Representative Candidate

Summarize your background and how it relates to the position you are seeking.

I served in the Idaho Senate from 2000-2006. While I had been politically engaged prior to my time in the Senate on the local level, this experience provided an opportunity to learn and engage in ways I hadn’t previously known. I came to know and work with others who also love Idaho and want to work together to maintain the way of life we all enjoy. I worked closely with Senator James Risch and Congressman Russ Fulcher during my time in the Senate and have maintained those working relationships over the course of the past two decades. My time in the Idaho Senate ended with an unsuccessful bid for the US Congress. I was appointed to the Idaho County Commission in 2007 and have served the residents of Idaho County since then. Those early connections have been fruitful over the years as I have worked with others to find long term solutions for SRS and PILT funding. I have been a member of the Clearwater Basin Collaborative since 2009 and have worked with members of environmental groups in an effort to demonstrate a willingness to listen to their concerns. Being a Commissioner in the largest county in Idaho–a county with over 85% public lands and a heavy dependence on Federal dollars–has kept me actively engaged in working towards economic sustainability for all Idaho counties; sustainability that doesn’t rely on a Federal handout. I have testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources. For the past year, I have served on the CFTM and have been one of IAC’s two WIR representatives. I attended the PILT Fly-in in September 2019 and the NACo Legislative Conference this past March. These opportunities afforded me the chance to set up personal meetings with USFS Deputy Chief Chris French and Undersecretary Jim Hubbard. I utilized my time in DC to be a voice for Idahoans. I was registered and looking forward to attending the WIR Conference that was cancelled in May. I have been named as a delegate for Donald Trump for both 2016 and 2020 GOP National Conventions. I believe we are in a unique position to be heard under this administration and that being a Trump Delegate may be advantageous to our participation in WIR.

List participation and years of participation on any IAC Committees, the IAC Board of Directors, and any leadership positions within your affiliate organization.
  • Member of IAC’s Public Lands and Transportation Committees
Briefly state your reasons for seeking the position and any other qualifications that might be an asset to IAC.

While I have worked behind the scenes (for the most part) in the past, I believe that it is important that Idaho’s counties have leadership in key positions who have experience and name recognition to continue the valuable work that Gordon Cruickshank started as our previous rep. I have the skills, experience and willingness to serve in this capacity.

List IAC/NACo/WIR events/conferences/meetings

I have participated in numerous IAC conferences and meetings since 2007, including active participation in District 2 and IACC. I attended the PILT Fly-in in September 2019 and the NACo Legislative Conference this past March. I was registered and looking forward to attending the WIR Conference that was cancelled in May.