2020 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE: Nicholas Henderson

NAME: Nicholas Henderson

RUNNING FOR: Kootenai County Commissioner, District 1

CITY OF RESIDENCE: Post Falls

DATE OF BIRTH: 01/29/1986

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: A.S. Aviation, Big Bend Community College

MILITARY EXPERIENCE: US Army 2004-2007, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006

EXPERIENCE IN ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICES: Chaplain, American Legion Post 143 (2019)

YEARS AS IDAHO RESIDENT: 8+ years (born at Kootenai Medical Center however I have lived in several places including overseas and deployed)

FAMILY: Abigail Henderson (Wife), Heidi (10) and Lincoln (4). Tom & Eileen Henderson (Parents), Rep. Frank Henderson (Grandfather).

HOBBIES: Flying, Fishing, Camping, Hiking, Traveling, Reading

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

I was born here, and raised here and I believe that I am being called to serve here. My family and I love Kootenai County, and with that comes an obligation to ensuring Kootenai County remains the home we’ve grown accustomed to. Runaway spending and alarming budgetary decisions made by former and current commissioners have placed us on the edge of a fiscal cliff. It is time to turn things around, to recommit ourselves to responsible growth and liberty-based policy which protects the rights of citizens of Kootenai County, our waterways, our land, and our communities. I want to bring innovative, entrepreneurial, leadership to Kootenai County, and I have the energy to do that.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THREE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES YOU’LL FACE?

The biggest issue we are facing in Kootenai County is the fact that our spending has far outpaced our growth and that has dangerously depleted our cash reserves; spending that can not continue if we want to avoid bankruptcy. COVID-19 will undoubtably have a long-felt impact on our economy and we need to be prepared for that. Second, we are a fast-growing county and need to grow responsibly – protecting the rights of citizens and their property, while also making certain that families can afford to live here is important, and with that we need to make sure that we are improving our infrastructure in a way that keeps Kootenai County the attractive place it is while also accommodating our growing population’s needs. And third is innovation and modernization – we are living in a connected time and ushering in new technologies will make our communities smarter, safer and more efficient. Technology, such as high-speed fiber and 5G networks can help us bring the cost of doing County business down, while increasing the satisfaction of citizens up and attracting new businesses to the area.

IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES?

The first, most important, thing that I’ll do is get to work with my fellow commissioners, county department heads, and public organizations and citizens to identify ways in which we can address the rapid spend-down of our financial reserves. My goal will be to work with experts throughout the county to identify and implement budgetary changes that serve to reverse our course of spending beyond our means. When it comes to our growth and communities I’ll work closely with builders and contractors in addition to the voters in order to streamline our processes and get government as far out of the way as possible. The single most effective thing that I’ll do to solve any, and all, issues that come before me will be to seek knowledge, seek the law, and seek the people. I know full well that I can’t “know everything” and that no one man or woman has all the answers to our problems, it would be arrogant to assume otherwise – the real, critical, step I’ll take to addressing these issues and any others will be remaining humble, and remaining committed to serving the citizens of our county.

WHAT SPECIFIC SKILLS OR EXPERIENCE QUALIFY YOU FOR THIS JOB?

I have a background in leadership, in the Army I was a team leader and led soldiers into combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005-2006) with the 4th Infantry Division’s B Co., 1/68 Combined Arms Battalion. I’ve served as the Chaplain for the American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls, and am currently serving as an EMS Helicopter Pilot and Captain – where I’m expected to be thoughtful, decisive, calm, cool and collected at all times. I am an expert at learning new skills and recognize that this position, if I’m elected to it, will come with a sharp learning curve – but not one that I am unprepared for. I have started and operated my own companies and this entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen will translate well to the work required of me as County Commissioner. My work in unmanned systems is a natural progression of my skills as an aviator and innovator – and that affinity for technological advancement and improvement will also help me to ensure that we, as a County, are operating ready for what tomorrow brings.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS ELECT YOU, RATHER THAN AN OPPONENT?

Voters should elect me over my opponents because I am coming into this fresh, with a servant’s heart and a true want to give back to Kootenai County. I live my life guided by an ethos that is engrained to my core, values and principles and faith in God, all serve to guide me through any obstacle I face. This isn’t a career advancing move for me, if elected I will be taking a considerable pay and benefit cut from my current role as an EMS Pilot; I’m not doing this for anything more than my love of the area, our home. The other two people running have some massive baggage that comes with electing either of them, county employees I’ve spoken too have confided in me that they don’t want to work with either of them, and that sort of toxic environment will only hurt Kootenai County; many are prepared to resign. We don’t have time for someone who feels they are entitled to a seat and benefits, with a chip on their shoulder, to be elected to this seat. What we DO need is fresh perspective, energy, drive, work ethic – and I’ve got all of those. I’m a Veteran, a small business owner, a first responder – and I was born here in Kootenai County, and Kootenai County is where I believe I am meant to serve.