Candidate Profile-Joshua Blessinger
Birth date: March 19, 1979
Profession: Marine Corps Veteran, currently a student at Boise State, English Communication Major, Media production and editing.
Educational background: Current Student, End of Jr. Year
Public service (elected or appointed offices): First time candidate
Community service (service clubs, nonprofit boards, etc.): Film Crew Volunteer at Local Community Access Television (TVCTV), I volunteer at the English Language Center-Idaho Refugee Service, I am also a coach for the Challenger Special Needs Little League
How many years as a resident of your city: 6 years in Boise, 25 years resident of Coeur d’Alene Area (Including time on active duty in Marine Corps)
Marital status: Married 8 years
Family: One 7 year old boy, One 5 year old girl
Hobbies: Golf, Fishing, Hunting, Drawing, Painting, Video Editing.
Why are you running for office?
I want people to feel like they have a voice, like their vote counts. If people will just do their research, the person they vote for can be a representative of their voice. I will be that representative. Find the candidate who speaks to you, if none do, you can run too. Vote for the individual, not for the party.
What do you see as the three biggest issues you’ll face?
Health Care will be a major Issue and one that won’t be solved overnight. Jobs/Unemployment is a huge problem in our present economy. Education finance is perhaps my number one priority; if you fix that, everything else will fall into place.
If elected, what steps will you take to resolve these issues?
Health Care: Instead of requiring health coverage, I would try to limit the cost of care. To do this there must be limitations placed on malpractice tort litigation. From there we can limit the amount doctors and hospitals charge for time and supplies.
Jobs/Unemployment: I would propose a tax break for small businesses, also for companies that have a certain number of employees making a certain percentage over the minimum wage. This would decrease the cost of doing business in this state making it more attractive to industry. We also need to improve our education system to attract more businesses.
Education funding: I would propose an out-of-state real estate investors property tax. When people in other states buy our homes for rental or lease purposes it creates an illusion of higher home values until reality strikes. It also sends money out of Idaho’s economy. This tax revenue could be invested back into Idaho schools and help cover the price of our future.
What specific skills or experience qualify you for this job?
As a Marine Veteran, I possess a level of Honor necessary to lead our Senate. I possess the Courage to stand up to those who would seek to undermine the will of the people. I possess the Commitment to stay at the front lines of our state’s politics no matter what opponents may throw at me. Above all else, Integrity.
Why should voters elect you, rather than an opponent?
I will not say anything directly about my opponents, good or bad. I will say that if elected I will ensure that I will do anything within my Constitutional authority to protect Idahoans, our wild lands, and our way of life. I am not running for me, I am running for Idaho.