19-05-2025
Idaho needs independent veteran voices in government
Idaho's future deserves leaders who understand that loyalty belongs to the people, not the party, write guest columnists Paul Cunningham and Patrick Riceci. (Getty Images)
Idaho is at a crossroads. Our state's Legislature has become increasingly polarized, with partisanship often drowning out pragmatic problem-solving.
It's time for a new approach — one that draws on the leadership, service and integrity of a cadre of independent veterans willing to step into the political arena. These efforts should not be confined to the Legislature but should also include veterans' participation in city council, school board, library district and highway district elections, all of which provide an opportunity for veterans to lead and problem solve in their communities.
CONTACT US
As a share of the population, Idaho has one of the highest number of veterans in the United States. Those veterans bring something Idaho desperately needs at all levels of government: firsthand experience putting mission above ego, country above faction and teamwork above personal gain.
They understand sacrifice, discipline and the importance of making hard choices for the greater good. Imagine what a group of veterans — running as independents, free from the grip of party machines — could do for the people of Idaho, whether that is as a legislator, city council member, county commissioner or highway district commissioner.
These candidates would not be beholden to rigid platforms or state or national agendas. Instead, they would focus on local issues: improving access to affordable housing, strengthening education at the local level, supporting the transportation (including walking and biking) needs of local communities, protecting farms and water from urban encroachment and fostering economic opportunity for all Idahoans.
Their independence would allow them to work across party lines and rebuild the trust and civility so often missing from our various seats of government, including the Statehouse.
We need veterans not just as symbols of service, but as active leaders helping reshape Idaho's political landscape. We call on veterans across the state to consider stepping up — not as Republicans or Democrats, but as principled independents ready to serve again, this time in the helm of government at all levels.
Idaho's future deserves leaders who understand that loyalty belongs to the people, not the party. Let's help make that future a reality.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
