Jim Addis

Longtime Coeur d’Alene auto dealer Jim Addis is seeking the Idaho Legislative District 4 House seat currently held by Rep. Luke Malek.

Malek is running for Congress.

Addis, 57, is a lifelong Republican whose family sold Lake City Ford last year to Jim Parker.

“I want to help Idaho stay strong and set us up for an even stronger future,” he said Thursday, promising to commit the time and energy needed for the job. “This is something I want to do. I used to work six days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day. Now I have my own schedule. This is a job where I can make a difference.”

Addis, who now owns Lake City Wholesale — an auto concierge business where he says he “finds cars for my friends” — is a Washington State University graduate who double-majored in marketing and economics. After college he was a consumer products sales rep for the Beatrice Corp, then joined Gregg Industries as national sales manager. Addis moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1998 and until the dealership was sold last year, served as vice president and general manager.

As an official with the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association for a decade, Addis regularly visited with legislators in Boise. That, he said, is where the seeds of possible service were sown.

“Every time I walked through the Capitol, the hair on my neck stood up,” he said. “This is the greatest form of government in the history of man. When you walk into something like that, you realize what it is to be an Idahoan, to be an American.”

Addis said he also has benefited greatly from growing up with and working for his parents, Tom and Lynn Addis. The Addises are longtime North Idaho philanthropists heavily involved in community activities.

“I was fortunate to be in business and give back to the community that way,” Jim said. “It was started by my mother and father and I’ve worked hard to do that myself. Serving in the Legislature is one way I can give back.”

Addis and his wife, Terri, have one daughter. Kendra is a student at North Idaho College.

Addis is the second announced candidate from Kootenai County for 2018 legislative races. In early September, Republican John Green said he’ll seek the seat now held by Eric Redman, R-Rathdrum. Redman has said he won’t seek re-election next year.

http://www.cdapress.com/local_news/20171013/addis_announces_legislative_bid

PAID FOR BY COMMITTEE TO ELECT JIM ADDIS