00:00:00:00 - 00:00:40:04
Lindsay Allen
Welcome to the 2024 General election meet the candidate forum. My name is Lindsay Allen and I am joined by Naomi Boutz. We will be your moderators for the 2024 Meet the Candidates series. This year's forum is sponsored by the Hagadone Media Group, Quicksilver Studios, and the Joint Public Policy Committee of the Coeur d'Alene regional, Hayden, Post Falls, and Rathdrum Chambers of Commerce in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls Press.

00:00:40:06 - 00:01:05:17
Lindsay Allen
This forum is intended to allow you, the voter, to hear from the candidates representing various Idaho state legislative …

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:40:04
Lindsay Allen
Welcome to the 2024 General election meet the candidate forum. My name is Lindsay Allen and I am joined by Naomi Boutz. We will be your moderators for the 2024 Meet the Candidates series. This year's forum is sponsored by the Hagadone Media Group, Quicksilver Studios, and the Joint Public Policy Committee of the Coeur d'Alene regional, Hayden, Post Falls, and Rathdrum Chambers of Commerce in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls Press.

00:00:40:06 - 00:01:05:17
Lindsay Allen
This forum is intended to allow you, the voter, to hear from the candidates representing various Idaho state legislative and Kootenai County positions who will share their vision and policies to help inform your vote. Candidates will be given one minute to introduce themselves, then asked three questions with two minutes to respond to each question. Candidates will be allowed one minute for their closing statements.

00:01:05:18 - 00:01:49:01
Lindsay Allen
These forums provide a unique opportunity to connect with the candidate who seek to serve our community. By meeting our candidates one on one in a more casual environment, we aim to better inform Kootenai County voters about each candidate's point of view. And.

00:02:17:14 - 00:02:47:19
Naomi Boutz
Next, we have candidates for State representative district two, seat B, and this is Tami Holdahl. Welcome, Tami.

Tami Holdahl
Thank you.

Naomi Boutz
Why don't you take a minute and give your introduction?

Tami Holdahl
Hello, my name is Tamie. Hold all. I am running for the House of Representatives, district two, seat B. I am a lifelong resident of Saint Maries. My ancestors, homesteaded in Derry, Idaho in 1896.

00:02:47:19 - 00:03:24:06
Tami Holdahl
So I have a long history in Idaho. I've been married for 47 years. We have three grown children and nine grandchildren. I was a police officer for 24 years. I have also, during that 24 years, I sat as the mayor of City of Saint Maries and also on the city council. I am the best candidate for this, this position because I feel that I will listen to the people and bring common sense back to, the legislation.

00:03:24:08 - 00:04:00:23
Naomi Boutz
Okay. Thank you. First question. What are the primary issues in district two and what steps would you take to address them? You have two minutes.

Tami Holdahl
I think the primary issue in district two is the legislation seems to be spending a lot of money on extreme bills. And I can give you an example of that. They made a enhanced penalty on a cannibalism bill, and, then they took away the lunch program for the kids during the summer.

00:04:00:23 - 00:04:29:01
Tami Holdahl
Those two things don't, to me, are not equal on the scale of things. And I just think that we need to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on extreme, bills and get back to common sense and do what's best for our people.

Naomi Boutz
Thank you. Next question. Legislators often receive input from advocacy groups and organizations in addition to their constituents.

00:04:29:03 - 00:04:58:14
Naomi Boutz
How will you balance these perspectives when supporting or opposing legislation, and what steps will you take to ensure transparency to your constituents?

Tami Holdahl
Well, I, I believe that in the world of social media, in today's world, everybody has access to you. And I really believe in transparency. I also believe that people should have the ability to give you input, and I will seek that input from from the public.

00:04:58:14 - 00:05:28:22
Tami Holdahl
I want to know what they have to say about the issues that are before them, that affect them. I want that to be at the forefront of what I do. I, I don't think that decisions should be made by, by me or any legislator that doesn't know about what they're making legislative bills about. We need to find out from the experts, meaning the people that actually do the job, what works best.

00:05:28:22 - 00:05:59:15
Tami Holdahl
And so that will help with the transparency. That will help with communication. I also believe at the end of, my session does not mean that I'm done with session. That means I should be coming back to the to the, communities that I'm representing, actually, and asking them about the things, the issues that are they're dealing with and the issues that concern them and the things that I can maybe do to help them out.

00:05:59:15 - 00:06:36:04
Tami Holdahl
I need to listen to what they have to say. And I'm I'm a pretty good listener. So I look forward to doing that for them.

Naomi Boutz
Thank you. And last question. If proposition one passes, will you support it or will you vote to repeal it?

Tami Holdahl
I am in support of proposition one, and the reason I'm in support of it is it is because I believe that it is a way for all people to put the put on the ballot, the people that they want to see on the ballot in the general election.

00:06:36:06 - 00:06:59:05
Tami Holdahl
All people should vote for who goes to the general election.

Naomi Boutz
Okay. Thank you.

Tami Holdahl
You're welcome.

Naomi Boutz
Now we're at the conclusion. So we're, at the point where you get to make a closing statement. You have one minute.

Tami Holdahl
I want you to know that I will be an advocate for bringing our career technical education back to our high schools.

00:06:59:06 - 00:07:32:03
Tami Holdahl
I feel that is extremely important to set our youth up for, success. We need to do as much as we can for them to give them good paying jobs. Because when you do things like that and they have those opportunities in front of them, they will make better citizens. Crime goes down. They also, also when crime goes down, is good for our economy because they have a well-paying job and they will spend money.

00:07:32:03 - 00:07:59:01
Tami Holdahl
So therefore that's good for our economy. So I am very, very high on, CTE programs coming back. And also the other thing is, I've already mentioned listening to the people that actually do jobs, ask them what how jobs will work if the bills that we make will be effective or not effective, and why we need to ask the people that actually do the job.

00:07:59:02 - 00:08:27:06
Tami Holdahl
So thank you very much and I appreciate your vote.

Naomi Boutz
On behalf of the Joint Public Policy committees representing the Coeur d'Alene regional, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum Chambers of Commerce in partnership with the Hagadone Media Group and Coeur d'Alene Post Falls Press. Lindsay and I thank all candidates for participating. I would also like to thank the production team members at the Quicksilver Studios and the Hagadone Media Group and the Coeur d'Alene press.

00:08:27:08 - 00:08:48:11
Naomi Boutz
And of course, thank you to those who have taken the time to learn more about each of the candidates featured in this year's Meet the Candidates series. This series has made it possible to hear from 23 Kootenai County local race candidates. We sincerely thank candidates who took the time to discuss what is important to voters in Kootenai County.

00:08:48:13 - 00:09:24:07
Naomi Boutz
We hope this townhall forum has helped inform those still uncertain about whom they will cast a final ballot for in the coming weeks. Please remember to vote. It's one of the most significant rights and responsibilities as Americans. The fundamental message this year is cast informed votes. Thank you.