Candidate Profile-Duane Rasmussen
Birth date: 1953
Profession: Lawyer
Educational background:
Wisconsin Academy, graduated High School 1971
Andrews University, B.A., double major, Business Administration and History 1975
Oklahoma City University, Juris Doctor 1978
Public service (elected or appointed offices):
Assistant Attorney General, State of Oklahoma under two Attorneys General
Attorney Law Clerk, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
Assistant District Attorney, Oklahoma
Community service (service clubs, nonprofit boards, etc.): NRA Life Member
President of North Idaho Republican Pachyderm Club, Board Member of Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest-Kootenai County, Board Member of Hayden Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, Member, Idaho Education Forum
How many years as a resident of your city: 10 years in Hayden, 16 years in the county
Marital status: Divorced
Family: I have one daughter and extended family in Idaho with grandparents moving to the area over 100 years ago.
Hobbies: Photography, videography, riding dirt bikes, hunting and fishing
Why are you running for office?
I was encouraged to run for office by friends and neighbors in the Third Legislative District who thought I would represent them well and who felt I was qualified. After much thought and consideration, I decided to make this commitment and am looking forward to moving my public service efforts in this direction.
What do you see as the three biggest issues you’ll face?
1. Maintaining a strong economy in the face of nationwide challenges
2. Maintaining quality educational opportunities
3. Promoting public safety
If elected, what steps will you take to resolve these issues?
Maintaining a strong economy: Less regulation of business and lower taxes will go a long way to attracting businesses, both large and small, to our region. More businesses mean more jobs and more economic opportunity. A strong educational environment will also aid in economic development, as will control over legislative excess. Sometimes less is more.
Maintaining quality educational opportunities: As the father of a teenage daughter, education is foremost in my mind. Students and their parents should be given the opportunity to select from a variety of educational options. Both state funded and private schools need to be given the tools which will allow them to provide quality education.
Promoting public safety: Kootenai County should not become a dumping ground for pre-parole prisoners. Representative Jim Clark did a good job of discouraging state corrections officials from building a prison release center in Kootenai County. Now that he is retiring, we need to continue in his footsteps. We also need to maintain, and if necessary enact, laws which will effectively prosecute sex offenders.
What specific skills or experience qualify you for this job?
What distinguishes me are my skills and experience. I have worked at a state capitol as a lawyer and have learned how state government functions. I have experience in both criminal law and the governance of state agencies, having advised and defended various state officials and boards. I have insight into the workings of state government without being an insider.
Why should voters elect you, rather than an opponent?
As a dedicated Republican and a lawyer with a degree in business administration, the people of the 3rd Legislative District can rely on me to provide intelligent, conservative and common sense leadership.