Vera Gadman

Questions:

1. What inspired you to run for elected office?

2. What unique qualifications would you bring to office that no one else could match?

3. What are the most important issues facing the community? Why?

4. How do you plan to address these issues?

5. If elected, what legacy would you hope to create? Why?

6. What do you most look forward to after you are elected?

7. What are your views on public education in Idaho and Bonner County? Do you think the state should provide more or less funding for public education?

8. What are your views on the proposed Newport silicon smelter?

9. What are your views on Proposition 1 to authorize betting on historic horse racing?

10. What are your views on Proposition 2 to expand Medicaid in Idaho?

11. Is there anything the county can do to ensure fairness in tax assessments?

12. Do you agree with the county’s handling of damaging boat wakes?

13. Do you agree with the county commission’s ongoing efforts to simplify land use codes and processes?

14. Do you support the county’s road-maintenance approach or would you like to see something different?

15. What’s the harshest criticism you expect to face on the campaign trail and how would you respond to such criticism?

16. If you could only get one thing across to voters during your campaign, what would it be?

Name: Vera Gadman

Office you are seeking: Idaho State Senate, Legislative District 1

Education: Hammersmith College of Art, London

Occupation: Graphic designer

Address: Hope

1. My belief is that the Idaho legislature is following a strict agenda controlled by the Washington Republicans. This is not why they were elected. They were elected to look after the needs of Idahoans first before following a strict party line without taking into account the needs of their constituents.

2. The candidate did not respond to this question.

3. The candidate did not respond to this question.

4. The candidate did not respond to this question.

5. Health coverage for all.

6.The candidate did not respond to this question.

7. Education support is critical to the future of Idaho. We rank 49th in the nation on school spending. More money should go towards paying the teachers to encourage them to stay in Idaho. 1 in 5 teachers leave to go to other states for higher paying teaching and it costs Idaho over $6 million to replace these teachers every year.

8. The proposed silicon smelter will produce 320,000 tons of carbon monoxide annually. Minute amounts of invisible silica particle dust will create health a hazard. The additional trucking and additional trains carrying silica from Canada and from coal from Kentucky will put additional strain on our roads and rail lines that will be costly to repair which will be a burden on the Idaho taxpayer. 

9. I am opposed to Prop 1. The Idaho Constitution permits pari-mutuel betting but also states pari-mutuel gambling is only legal if it does not imitate slot machines or casino gambling. As this basically is a bill for the introduction of slot machines that are to be used to allow betting on old race videos, it is unconstitutional. The bottom line is this does not support new jobs but encourages gambling.

10. I support Medicaid expansion, Prop 2. First, it will allow 62,000 Idahoans caught in the gap of making too much for Medicaid but too little for the exchange to get insurance. Now we pay for their care through emergency rooms and state catastrophic funds. Secondly, we already pay Federal taxes for Medicaid programs and this money is going to other states, preventing $400 million from coming back to Idaho.

11. Not applicable.

12. Not applicable.

13. Not applicable.

14. Infrastructure and road and bridge maintenance is critical to keep Idaho safe.

15. The candidate did not respond to this question.

16. The candidate did not respond to this question.