Broadsword announces BOCC bid

SANDPOINT — State Sen. Joyce Broadsword announced Wednesday she will seek the Republican nomination for the District 1 seat on the Bonner County commission.

“I am running for county commissioner because I feel the experience and knowledge gained as a state senator in the past eight years could be put to use to benefit Bonner County,” Broadsword said in a statement.

Broadsword added that she wants to ensure the county has joined the 21st century and ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

The announcement means Broadsword, currently a District 2 lawmaker, won’t seek election to legislative District 7, a district that was created through the latest reapportionment effort.

“I am grateful to the voters of our region, including southern Bonner County, for allowing me to represent them in the Idaho Senate. I really enjoyed my work in the Senate and I am torn. But after talking to my family and at the urging of many constituents, I have decided it is time for me to focus on my efforts on directly improving things here in Bonner County,” Broadsword said.

Broadsword’s priorities include economic development, supporting local input on decisions made in Boise, providing common sense, conservative values to local issues and assuring the county lives within its means.

Broadsword has serve six years on the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, making tough economic decisions needed to balance the budget without raising taxes.

“As a county commissioner, I will apply the same conservative principles,” she said.

A Bonner County native and graduate of Sandpoint High School, Broadsword is co-owner of a courier service for a regional medical laboratory for more than 20 years. She also co-owns a log home manufacturing business in Bonner County that’s been operating since 1978.

State Sen. Shawn Keough is endorsing Broadsword’s candidacy for the commission seat.

“Joyce has demonstrated her ability to take her private business experience into the public arena and use it to manage taxpayer dollars conservatively,” Keough said. “Joyce does the homework needed to know the nuts and bolts of running an efficient and cost-effective government that protects taxpayers’ pocketbooks while providing the public serves that are needed.”