Broadsword announces candidacy

SAGLE - Sen. Joyce Broadsword announced that she will stand for re-election to the Idaho State Senate for Legislative District 2. The district includes all of Benewah and Shoshone Counties in addition to portions of Bonner and Kootenai counties. Broadsword is a Republican and a longtime resident of Sagle.

"I am proud, honored and excited to continue serving the people of District 2, where I have lived all my life," she said. "I believe that my deep roots in our area have helped me during my time in the state Senate consistently and accurately represent the issues and concerns of my constituents, as well as all the people of North Idaho."Broadsword is a member of the Joint Appropriations Finance Committee, which consists of 10 senators and 10 representatives and which guides Idaho's budget process.

First elected in 2004, she also serves as vice-chair of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee and sits on the Senate Transportation Committee, where she has been successful in ensuring that GARVEE funds have been used in the expansion of U.S. 95 from Garwood to Sagle.

Senator Broadsword is a member of the Western Legislative Forestry Task Force, whose purpose is to address the issues affecting the timber industry. Broadsword has lived and worked in Bonner County her entire life and is a graduate of Sandpoint High School. Her family has farmed the land for generations and she and her brother own Northern Log Homes with her husband and son both working for a subsidiary of this company. She and her husband John have three sons and three grandchildren.

"If re-elected I will continue to work hard to not only preserve the freedoms our citizens hold most dear, but expand them as well," she said.