Little talks diversity, economy

SANDPOINT — Brad Little has been Idaho's lieutenant governor for nearly 10 years, and as a rancher and businessman by trade, he said it was an honor when the governor asked him to step into the position as former Lt. Gov. Jim Risch transitioned to the United States Senate.

"That's what really gave me a passion for trying to understand the incredible diversity and dynamic differences in Idaho," Little said. "Sandpoint is so much different than Rexburg or Weiser."

Little was in town last week in part to attend local Lincoln Day events, as well as to host a door-to-door grassroots effort in his campaign for governor. Little said he has spent a lot of time travelling the state and going to Capital for a Day events with Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter. So when Otter announced he would not be running for governor this year, Little decided he would.

"We've got a lot of good stuff going, but we've got a lot more to do going forward," Little said.  

The diversity in Idaho is an area of focus for Little, because when a decision comes across the governor's desk, instinctively knowing how it would be viewed in Sandpoint versus how it would be viewed in Ashton or another part of the state is important, he said.

Timber and tourism, for example, are important in the northern part of the state. For the past 30 years, Little said, there has been a loss of jobs in the timber industry as fewer, yet more modernized, mills remained.

"We can't stop that — you can't plug that hole," he said. "What you have to do is have the best mills and retain the logging jobs. And of course one logger in the woods today does the work of two or three before because of the modern logging equipment they are using. So, to me, it's what do we do to create new jobs in Bonner and Boundary county to supplant the jobs that are lost in either agriculture or timber."

And for those who are in the timber industry in the area, he said, their kids and spouses need jobs, too.

Little said the proposed Newport silicon smelter has been a topic of concern at the area's Capital for a Day events, such as the one in Ponderay in October. While there is the aspect of additional jobs in the area, it is in Washington, Little said, and the governor made the commitment that if there is going to be an impact on Idaho air, roads or water, Idaho officials will have a say about it.

Some industry is flourishing in the area, such as aerospace with companies like Aerocet, Quest Aircraft and more. Little said a lot of the people working in that field are people who would have historically been working in the mills or on farms.

Little said he views the governor's job as creating the "best possible opportunity" for the kids and grandkids of Idahoans to stay in Idaho.

"Idaho is growing at break-neck speed right now, but the one thing people are passionate about is they want their kids to be able to stay here," he said. "There's a lot of decisions we can make that can impact that — investments in education, better jobs, higher incomes, investment in infrastructure."

Information: bradlittleforidaho.com

Mary Malone can be reached be email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.