SENATORS: They care for Idaho

I serve as the Chaplain of the 2025 Idaho State Senate. I retired in 2018 from a 34-year television media career. After earning a seminary degree in 2020 I was asked to serve as Chaplain of the Senate. Time flies … and surprisingly I’m finishing my fifth session. In five years, I’ve learned a lot about our Idaho legislators, the media and myself. 

When I was a local media executive, part of my job included consuming news coverage from other local media sources like newspaper, radio, and television. In hindsight, I confess that consuming so much media contributed to my growing skepticism of what “I thought” was happening at the State Capitol. From my media vantage point (outside-looking-in) it seemed that State legislators were concerned more about the short-term (perhaps the next election) instead of working to improve Idaho for the long term. 

It’s easy to misjudge a group of people (like legislators) from a distance, but much harder when you know someone personally. I now see our 35 Senators in action daily, and many of them have shared their stories with me, their upbringings, and I’ve met their family members. Today, here’s what I know to be true: Idaho has 35 caring Senators and they are faithful to the districts they represent. They are dedicated, determined, and dependable servant leaders. 

James Freeman Clarke once said, “A politician thinks of the next election. But a statesman, thinks of the next generation.” The media can often assume the "former." I now see that the "latter" is the norm for Idaho’s Senate. 

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG 

Idaho Senate Chaplain