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Wednesday, December 18, 2024
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Luke Omodt

Omodt

| April 30, 2022 1:00 AM

• Profession: Educator/Soldier/Farmer

• Party affiliation: Republican

• Educational background: BA Secondary Education Minor in Government

• How many years as a Bonner County resident: 43

• Marital status: Married to Kami (Blood)

• Family: Sienna and Reagan, Casper the rabbit

• Hobbies: skiing, sailing, gardening, rebuilding my 105 year old house

• Website: lukeomodt.com

  1. Don’t break it if it isn’t broken; stick with the round wheel because it is the design that works best, dig in to the Comprehensive plan and more importantly the accompanying ordinances and code. (We should hire technical writers to speed up the process!) I have been meeting with Bonner County Department heads and employees since January of this year to develop my understanding of Bonner County Functions. Travel to all of the nine incorporated areas in Bonner County and learn what I can do to be a part of Bonner County’s success. Listen and research before voting.
  2. Economics. Facts matter if our workforce can’t find a place to live they are going to move somewhere else. We need places for our workforce to live or our businesses are going to move away. I teach high school government and economics, our Idaho kids are moving away.

• Growth is here. Change is not something that we can ignore. Our roads and bridges are being used to death. We are not going to stop people from wanting to move to Bonner County.

• Teamwork, civility, and relationships matter. We are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

  1. • We need an all hands on deck approach to retain and recruit workers in this economy. Bonner County must have good jobs where people can afford to feed their families and have a roof over their heads. The changes in this county cannot push out the people who made Idaho great.

• Update the Comprehensive Plan, update the zoning ordinances and code. Follow the plan.

• We all live in Bonner County, Idaho, and the United States. We are a free country because of sacrifice and commitment to American values. Freedom comes with responsibility and accountability. Elections have consequences.

  1. Bonner County should immediately commission an impact fee study to determine how, why, and what is best for Bonner County. Growth should pay for growth. Our current comprehensive plan, zoning, and ordinances need to be updated, followed, and respected. The current Comprehensive Amendment is leading neighbor against neighbor; it needs to stop. I have family members who grew up here, work here, and are trying to build their life here. Impact fees are going to drive up the costs for locals as well as newcomers. We need to be careful what we wish for and proceed with eyes wide open.

5.The preamble of the United States Constitution uses the phrase “in Order to form a more Perfect union” as one of its six goals. This candidate isn’t perfect, our country isn’t perfect, Idaho and Bonner County aren’t perfect; the American people have done more to advance democracy in our 234 years than any other country. I can speak from first hand experience, 4 deployments and five years overseas, the consequence of poor government and poor leadership. The sky is not falling. Bonner County government is not broken, but we need a tune up.

  1. How does Bonner County government best serve the people of Bonner County today, and tomorrow is the most critical issue. County government is not only responsible in addressing the needs of today but also in preparing, planning, developing, and executing a plan that meets the needs of our future. I retired from the Idaho Army National Guard on April 1st, 2022; as a logistician I was tasked with developing and executing plans to meet current demands and to anticipate future needs. Bonner County needs to develop and execute a strategic plan that economizes, sustains, and improves our quality of life.
  2. The road, bridges, infrastructure, government and people of Bonner County are interconnected today and tomorrow. Growth is here. Our infrastructure is being used to death and inflation is accelerating. The state motto of Idaho is “Esto Perpetua,” “may she endure forever.” Our current policies and practices are not preparing us for tomorrow.
  3. That I am anyone’s crony. I come from a family, and married into a family that values service over self. My brothers, sisters, and I graduated from SHS 1993-2015. We have 100 years of public service to Idaho and the United States. My parents have had a son in uniform since 1997 and deployed overseas from 2004 to this day. Public service, leadership, and commitment to our values is who we are. I stand on my own two feet and will continue to serve our country, state, and county for as long as I am able. Facts, values, and commitment matter.
  4. What have you done for the United States, Idaho, and Bonner County? Our government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. Individual liberties and American freedoms are not free. Freedom comes with individual accountability, responsibility, sacrifice, and commitment. No government is a business designed to produce profit. Government exists to defend and serve the people; it must be limited and responsible. I have 25 years of service to our nation, state, and Bonner County. Experience, competence, and principles matter.
  5. Elections, economics, life, and freedom all boil down to one word, choice. In a free society there are consequences and responsibilities necessary to maintain, defend, and preserve our freedoms. Bonner County’s future is bright. Honoring our past, prospering today, and preparing for our future is our way forward. 43 years of Bonner County, 25 years of public service, 23 years of military service, 16 years as an Idaho teacher, minor in government, grew up here, working here, and raising my family here. Bonner County needs experienced, competent, and principled leadership. Send me your questions, I’ll respond. Bonner County is home.