Bedke: Looking to the horizon

When Luke Malek of Coeur d'Alene bowed out of the lieutenant governor race last month, he endorsed Speaker of the House Scott Bedke as the man for the job. 

Now Bedke plans to show Idahoans that he deserves the support. 

The two sat down with The Press last week to discuss the 2022 May primary.

"We'll do whatever we can to help get him elected," Malek said.

Part of Malek's withdrawal from the race was his concern that "extremist politics" poses a threat to Idaho's quality of life. 

On Thursday, Malek cited Bedke's 20 years of legislative experience and nearly a decade of House leadership as key reasons for his endorsement. 

"It takes responsible, knowledgeable, reasonable and levelheaded leadership that's willing to compromise to come to solutions rather than just highlight and create problems," Malek said. "Those are all things that I have complete faith that Scott Bedke will bring to the table." 

Malek could not say the same for Rep. Priscilla Giddings, Bedke's lone opponent in the primary. 

Malek said "extremist politics" is driven by those who "never bring a single solution to the table and are there to tear down those solution-oriented policymakers.

"The hallmark of extremist politics is that it doesn't accomplish any solutions whatsoever," Malek said. "Extremism is the antithesis of having a vision."

When asked if Giddings is one of those non-solution-oriented individuals, he said: "absolutely." 

Still, Bedke said he and Giddings have some things in common, such as strong family values and dedication to their constituents. He acknowledged that the list of similarities is a short one, however.

And what sets the two apart? Time and experience. 

"I've been in the middle of every one of the things that, arguably, has made Idaho a good state," Bedke said. "For the last 20 years, I've been totally immersed in the policies that have created this destination state. I want to see that last and want to build on our past successes." 

Bedke pointed out that he "never needed a title to go to work," nodding to his work on natural resource issues, land, water, and asset management. 

"For a conservative to get things done, we need to get solutions (that) are tempered by our conservative approach that most Idahoans espouse," Bedke said. "You do that year after year as we have here, and you create the good situation that we have."

The "good situation" Bedke referred to is the combination of Idaho's strong economy, Second Amendment protections, pro-life stance, and a record-breaking budget surplus. 

In his opinion, Idaho has "never been in a better position than we are right now" financially.

Bedke doesn't subscribe to the old-school Idaho Republican stereotype — despite operating a multigenerational agricultural business and owning his fair share of cowboy boots. 

While Bedke assures Idaho residents that he shares their concerns about federal overreach and vaccination mandates, he said his mind is on the long-term. 

"Those are not going to define us as a state down the road," he said. "Our investments in education, roads, and in the way we handle our scarce resources are what I think will define us in the future." 

The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that Idaho is the second-fastest-growing state in the nation. Many of those new residents, Malek said, are drawn to the Gem State's "treasured" conservative values that support law enforcement, education and small business owners. 

He believes "extremist politics" threaten those values, citing the leadership disruption at North Idaho College as an example. 

"When you have people in leadership positions who are willing to tear things down just for the sake of tearing things down, those are the types of results you get," he said. "People are suffering because there's a lack of leadership and vision by people who are simply self-promoting."

To continue creating a place where "our freedoms are protected," Bedke said the state cannot be "stagnant." 

"It's going to take (making) investments and doing things a little differently," he said. "We're going to have to communicate, cooperate, and yes, there will have to be some compromise." 

As results roll in from the May primary election, Bedke said he hopes that legislators' responsibility to the citizens "transcends any difference" they have to get the job done. 

"The great state we have has come from looking to the horizon, not looking down, and we need to continue to do that," he said. "It's going to take innovative ideas and someone that can bring people together."