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.

00:02:17:06 - 00:02:43:18
Lindsay Allen
Okay. We are going to move on to state Senator. Candidate for district three, Brian Seguin. Brian, we're going to give you one minute for a candidate introduction for our audience. Have at it.

Brian Seguin
Sounds great. So, thanks for having me here. My name is Brian Seguin. I've been a resident of Idaho for roughly 30 years. I've spent ten of those in Kootenai County.

00:02:43:19 - 00:03:06:10
Brian Seguin
I'm married. My wife and I, I've been together for 22 years. We have two children in the Coeur d'Alene School District. I'm a professional librarian, have worked in academia for, 25 years, and, actually started at North Idaho College when I was, as a student employee when I got my associates degree there. So, that's kind of a little bit about me.

00:03:06:12 - 00:03:35:17
Brian Seguin
Did you also ask, why I'm running for office? Yeah. So, I think why I think I'm the best candidate. I think in 2021, the KCRCC issued a resolution supporting the John Birch Society, which, even in the 1950s, fairly radical, conservatism. And they have a long standing, dislike of New Deal programs and protections, including public education and, pushing conspiratorial issues.

00:03:35:18 - 00:04:13:10
Brian Seguin
So I think I want to, represent Kootenai County and all of the people rather than a small subset.

Lindsay Allen
Thank you. Okay, our first question, and we're going to give you two minutes to answer this question. What are the top legislative priorities for district three and how would you work to achieve them?

Brian Seguin
So in my opinion, and I put this in the voter guide, I do think that in district three we have a mix of, Dalton Gardens, which is, you know, larger property is more rural.

00:04:13:12 - 00:04:48:10
Brian Seguin
You have some Hayden in there which, is mixed with single families, large families, as well as, singles and starters. So, as I mentioned with that, I think what's really important, and I think the city is doing a great job of it, but coordinating on the state level and the local level with providing more housing opportunities, for single starters, entry level homes, condominiums, things where people can, get a foothold in the market and, build themselves up and build some equity, for long term investment.

00:04:48:10 - 00:05:21:09
Brian Seguin
And I think to kind of achieve what we think of as the American dream is owning some property and a home. So that's that's pretty vital and important to me. I did live in California. Really saw the failures of some of the overregulation and, not supporting, labor forces and markets in the area. So, if you're looking at, demographics in Kootenai County in the last census, data collection, the demographic of 65 and older, it increased like 85%.

00:05:21:11 - 00:05:56:05
Brian Seguin
So a lot of those folks are homeowners want to downsize. Kiki Miller had a great article this weekend about that. And so just providing different opportunities for different, constituent groups. Yeah.

Lindsay Allen
Thank you. Okay. Second question here. Legislators often receive input from advocacy groups and organizations as well as their constituents. How will you balance these perspectives when supporting or opposing legislation, and what steps will you take to ensure transparency for your constituents?

00:05:56:07 - 00:06:18:13
Brian Seguin
Yeah, that's a great question. And I think it's one that's really affecting not just our county but the whole state. I've been registered as a Republican. I've been registered as a Democrat, as an independent. To me, what's most important is a person's value. If they have integrity, their words and actions, rather than just being affiliated with a certain party.

00:06:18:15 - 00:06:48:01
Brian Seguin
I have seen firsthand the effects working at North Idaho College of, the influence of outside moneys in third party special interest group and I'm talking specifically about the effect. So, they have great influence. And when you create a grading system for legislators, and you provide incentives for them through scoring, they're going to stop working for the entire constituent group, and they're going to start trying to work for that group.

00:06:48:03 - 00:07:12:02
Brian Seguin
So my perspective is I, in creating transparency is, just being open with voters and talking about, the real issues and that are affecting them day to day, which I think is cost of living and affordability, and not leaning into culture war nonsense. We have educators in town who have been, demonized and stigmatized.

00:07:12:04 - 00:07:41:01
Brian Seguin
I've seen that firsthand. I don't think anybody really understands the issues at North Idaho College unless you worked there over that four year period. And I people coming into my office just crying, I, left and I see in 2023 with a, undiagnosed ulcer. So these these issues are real, and they're affecting everyone in town, and, and we really owe it to to our community to, I think, have that transparency.

00:07:41:03 - 00:08:02:23
Lindsay Allen
Thank you. Thank you. Okay, here's our last question. If proposition one passes, will you support it or will you vote to repeal it? You have two minutes.

Brian Seguin
That's an easy one. I would vote, to, support it. I am a supporter of it. Actually, was at the county fair talking to folks about it. Do I think it's a perfect system?

00:08:03:00 - 00:08:30:15
Brian Seguin
I don't, but it's the system that we're left with because of outside influences. So it's a nice bridge from the last question. And, I've actually heard legislators go on record in conversation saying that, specifically Senator Brian Lenny, and, Brian Almond from the Gem State Chronicle have said that they will see if there is political will to overturn that.

00:08:30:15 - 00:08:54:07
Brian Seguin
And if there's not, they will use political or, law fair means. So they will, push against it at every turn, but know that their first, their first choice is going to try to get other legislators to overturn it.

00:08:54:07 - 00:09:22:19
Lindsay Allen
Thank you. Okay. Now it is time for closing statements. So I'm going to give you one minute to address our audience. And, make some closing remarks.

Brian Seguin
Thank you. So, I'd really never had any intention to run for office. I think it wasn't until, I had Heather Scott, who's, represents district two. Tweet that normalizing sex with children starts in the library. So being a library professional and and, hearing that, I asked her for clarification on that, is this really what you mean?

00:09:22:19 - 00:09:53:03
Brian Seguin
She did not respond to me, so I emailed, multiple legislators from district one, two, and three and emailed Regan and asked for clarity around that. So if our area legislators feel like it's okay to just, drag local city and state workers without repercussions, then I'm here to step up and say that I will. I will represent everyone, traditional conservatives, independents, libertarians and Democrats.

00:09:53:05 - 00:10:19:12
Lindsay Allen
Thank you.

Brian Seguin
Yeah. You're welcome. Thank you.

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, the Hagadone Media Group, and the Coeur d'Alene Press.

00:10:19:14 - 00:10:40:16
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 Cook County.

00:10:40:18 - 00:11:16:12
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.