Governor to preview 2020 at Cd'A Chamber lunch
LOREN BENOIT/Press file Governor Brad Little and Michael Wolsten with ICCU mingle at the end of the Jobs Plus Meeting in April of this year.
COEUR d’ALENE — The local business community will make time Thursday for a Little lunch.
Brad Little will be the guest of honor at the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon, where the first-term Governor will present his thoughts on the upcoming 2020 legislative session.
“We’re hoping to hear his vision for the year to come,” Chamber president Steve Wilson said. “I’m confident we’ll hear about his educational plans. I’m hopeful to hear his continued commitment to career workforce training. I’m curious to hear his thoughts on Medicaid expansion in Idaho.”
Wilson added that, despite his pending retirement, he was encouraged by both Idaho’s and the Chamber’s direction.
“I think the Chamber’s direction is going to be exciting in the coming year,” he said. “We have a new CEO coming in; with that comes change. I’m excited about a renewed commitment from the board to be involved with the needs of the business community.
I think the 2020 year will be very exciting.”
Derrell Hartwick, the new CEO who replaces Wilson on Dec. 2, said he hopes to continue the Chamber’s relationship with Little’s office.
“It’s a priority to reach out to him and understand his goals and the goals for our region,” he said. “[Building a strong business community] is our goal as well as his, and any kind of relationship we can have will only make us stronger. That’s what a Chamber does: Build upon those kinds of relationships.”
Wilson added that Little’s availability and open access to Chambers of Commerce around the state have made the governor’s first year in office a delight, and that every opportunity to work with him has been refreshing.
“From what I’ve seen,” Wilson observed, “while the governor does have many years of public service, he’s approaching the job every day as if were new. He sems to be open to a number of possible solutions to issues we’ve had for a long time. We’re excited there’s going to be a new chapter in the year to come.”
All 260 tickets have been sold for the event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.