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Dotti Owens
Dotti Owens (Democratic Party) was the Ada County Coroner in Idaho. She assumed office in 2015. She left office on January 9, 2023.
Owens (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Ada County Coroner in Idaho. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Owens completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Dotti Owens earned an associate degree from the College of Southern Idaho in 2008, a bachelor's degree from Boise State University in 2012, and a graduate degree from Arizona State University in 2014.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Ada County, Idaho (2022)
General election
General election for Ada County Coroner
Rich Riffle defeated incumbent Dotti Owens in the general election for Ada County Coroner on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rich Riffle (R)  | 50.2 | 88,158 |
 | Dotti Owens (D) | 49.8 | 87,363 | |
| Total votes: 175,521 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ada County Coroner
Incumbent Dotti Owens advanced from the Democratic primary for Ada County Coroner on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dotti Owens | 100.0 | 12,826 |
| Total votes: 12,826 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ada County Coroner
Rich Riffle defeated Cheri Durst in the Republican primary for Ada County Coroner on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rich Riffle | 52.3 | 29,519 |
| Cheri Durst | 47.7 | 26,930 | ||
| Total votes: 56,449 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Owens' endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.
2018
General election
General election for Ada County Coroner
Incumbent Dotti Owens defeated Nikole O'Neal in the general election for Ada County Coroner on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dotti Owens (D) | 52.7 | 93,955 |
 | Nikole O'Neal (R) | 47.3 | 84,212 | |
| Total votes: 178,167 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ada County Coroner
Incumbent Dotti Owens advanced from the Democratic primary for Ada County Coroner on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dotti Owens | 100.0 | 21,567 |
| Total votes: 21,567 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ada County Coroner
Nikole O'Neal advanced from the Republican primary for Ada County Coroner on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nikole O'Neal | 100.0 | 32,129 |
| Total votes: 32,129 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dotti Owens completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Owens' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Actual, Verifiable Experience Does Matter!! THis position is non-partisian and important for ALL members of our Ada County.
- My staff will NEVER be thought of as "worker bees", but are professionals in their field with compassion, training and quality work
- Always working hard for my community of Ada County
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dotti Owens completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Owens' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
While continuing my career as the Ada County Coroner, there are many family and community projects that have become the focus for myself and the office. Suicide prevention education has been at the forefront. While many suicide prevention organizations are assisting those in need, the majority are focused on our youth. In reality, the majority of our suicide victims in Ada County are middle age. I will continue my work with local agencies in in finalizing our state suicide mortality workgroup which has been an ongoing joint effort for the last several months. Along with the suicide epidemic, my position as Coroner has been an eye-opener for the opioid crisis that is consuming both our state and nation. With representatives from the Idaho Drug Courts and other agencies we have recently begun to do "open-talk" community sessions to spread awareness on severity of opioid consumption in our community. In addition to providing accurate facts on opioid abuse, we also offer information for individuals (or families of individuals) looking for help with an opioid addiction.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
This is my first term as the Ada County Coroner. However, during this term, I have been involved in many legislation efforts. This month I was elected President of the Idaho State Coroner Association and chair of Intergovernmental Affairs through Idaho Association of Counties. I also sit on several committees with National Association of Counties (NACo), whom is instrumental in developing policy and procedures throughout various county jurisdictions around the nation.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
Prior to my time as Ada County Coroner, I was the Forensic Supervisor and Medicolegal Death Investigator. I started my medicolegal death investigation journey while attending college almost 12 years ago. I have personally investigated and reviewed thousands of scenes ranging from suicides to homicides, child deaths to hospices, each and every one equally as important as the other. In 2011 I obtained my American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigations (ABMDI) certification and am a registered diplomat. I am Board Certified eligible for the ABMDI Fellowship, which I will be testing and obtaining within the next few months, this certification requires 4000 hours of medicolegal death investigation, demonstrating my experience in the field. I have extensive knowledge in all divisions of the office and have led the Ada County Coroner's Office to becoming the third Coroner's jurisdiction in the nation, obtaining prestigious accreditation's through National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IAC&ME) and have also successfully trained my investigations team effectively so that they have obtained their ABMDI.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
It is the Ada County Coroner's duty to determine cause and manner of death. Was the death natural or an accident? Was it a suicide or homicide? What caused the death? What are the events, diseases and/or trauma that resulted in the death of the individual? And what were the circumstances of the death? Complete, accurate, and competent death investigations are imperative for families within our community. Families of decedents need the reassurance of experience and consistency of accuracy pertaining to the death of their loved ones when settling estates, filing life insurance claims, and seeking medical care based on our recommendations after forensic investigations. Public health and safety are also affected. Without actual qualifications and experience, public health risks increase. The position of Coroner is not a position that can be "figured out as you go". The Ada County Coroner's office aids the community in multiple ways. Aiding in finding closure while expressing compassion, respecting their loss, and valuing the life they lost. The lives of individuals within our great community are affected on a daily basis by the loss of a loved one and it is essential that for you, your Coroner is experienced when determining cause and manner of death. Experience is REQUIRED to maintain accreditation's for the Ada County Coroner's office.
What legacy would you like to leave?
Leaving my county better than I found it by improving and moving this office forward.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Worked at a local cafe! Loved the family that owned it.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas! Love the entire month of December, it is a month of traditions and family.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My kids. My home is where ever we are all together.
What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
Death investigation experience, real experience in the field and knowledge of the industry. I believe that ALL CORONERS should maintain a standard that allows them to be nationally accredited and certified.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 2, 2022
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