Idaho governor candidate wants to bring a new conservative blueprint

It's been a long 10 weeks for Idaho governor candidate Tommy Ahlquist.

The Boise-based businessman turned political hopeful has been making rounds in the state and visiting with mayors, city councilmen, school officials and residents in order to better understand the struggles Idahoans are facing. If elected, he said he plans on addressing the state's sagging education system and finding ways to help small towns and small businesses.

"Next week I finish a 97-town tour in 70 days," he said Friday during a stop in Moscow. "I've had mayors cry, I've had them say they're ready to turn in their keys."

One way to deal with some of the issues, he said, is to help businesses thrive by providing them with the help and skilled labor they need.

One of the problems, Ahlquist said, is Idaho youth's tendency to leave the state for jobs.

"The first thing I would do as governor is getting kids here in Idaho ready for jobs here in Idaho," he said, noting school buildings throughout the state "are literally crumbling."

Changes in business tax policies and increasing local control are also on the agenda, he said.

Ahlquist said much of what is causing discord in rural Idaho has to do with unfunded mandates, a cause he plans to address.

"Rural cities in Idaho are really struggling with EPA mandates," he said, adding cities rarely have the money to comply, which leads to tens of thousands of dollars in daily fines.

Ahlquist, 49, grew up on his family's farm in Utah and came to Idaho to play basketball for Ricks College as an undergraduate before moving forward with a career in medicine. He completed his residency in Arizona.

"I've been back here for nearly 20 years," he said. "I've seen more than 40,000 patients in the ER and ... built and sold more than 12.1 million square feet of commercial space in Idaho."

He said he considers himself a "business guy than anything," and he also views himself as a leader.

"Our state needs leadership," he said, noting that some new blood would also help. "We can do it. We can build a better Idaho for our kids."

Ahlquist married his high school sweetheart, Shanna, 29 years ago. The couple has four children and lives in Eagle.

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@dnews.com.