Elliot Werk
Elliot Werk is a former Democratic member of the Idaho State Senate, representing District 17 from 2002 to February 17, 2015. He resigned to take a job on the Idaho State Tax Commission.[1] He served as State Senate Assistant Minority Leader from 2013 to February 2015.
Biography
Werk earned his B.S. in Geology from Sonoma State University. His professional experience includes owning a small business and working as an environmental consultant.
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Werk served on the following committees:
| Idaho committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Werk served on the following committees:
| Idaho committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Judiciary and Rules |
| • Local Government and Taxation |
| • State Affairs |
| • Joint Legislative Oversight |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Werk served on these committees:
| Idaho committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Local Government and Taxation |
| • Resources and Environment |
| • Transportation |
| • Joint Millennium Fund |
| • Joint Legislative Oversight |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Werk served on these committees:
| Idaho committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Local Government and Taxation |
| • Resources and Environment |
| • Transportation |
| • Join Legislative Oversight |
Campaign themes
2012
Werk's campaign website highlighted the following campaign themes:[2]
- Ethics Reform
- Excerpt: "I place ethics first because the people have lost faith in their government. Without fundamental ethics reform there is no trust that the actions of state government are intended for the benefit of the people."
- Public Education
- Excerpt: "Rather than slashing an already anemic budget, Idaho leaders must look for every opportunity to improve schools to attract business. The state is starving public schools by leaving millions uncollected from tax cheats and from special interest tax exemptions."
- Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt: "With a paper thin high tech industry we are exposed to the whims of the global marketplace. Our colleges are slashed and the brain drain from Idaho is noticeable."
- Quality of Life
- Excerpt: "Healthy air quality, good traffic flow, managed development that enhances our neighborhoods, low crime rates and keeping gangs at bay, good roads, and community-based treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues can help to preserve our quality of life."
- Taxes
- Excerpt: "We must reduce property taxes for homeowners and seniors - not special interests. This means an increase in the Homeowner's Exemption to $150,000. I have sponsored bills to accomplish this since 2007 and will continue my efforts."
Bicycling Laws
During the 2010 legislative session, Werk proposed some changes to the rules of the road involving bicycles. His changes included drivers to give three feet of space as they pass around bicycles, adding a $75 fine to drivers who heckle bicyclists, adding an additional $75 penalty to the person at fault in any traffic incident involving a bicycle, and requirements that cyclists have brakes and not dart into crosswalks.[3]
"Right now, the rules of the road are kind of a bit fuzzy," Werk said during a Senate committee on his proposed legislation.[4] Werk regularly rides his bicycle to the Idaho State Capitol during the legislative session.[5]
None of Werk's legislation was approved by the Idaho Legislature, though the brake requirement passed the Idaho Senate.[6]
Elections
2014
- See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Idaho State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014. Incumbent Elliot Werk was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8][9][10]
2012
- See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2012
Werk won election in the 2012 election for Idaho State Senate District 17. Werk ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on May 15 and defeated Judy M. Peavey-Derr (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Elliot Werk Incumbent |
62.9% | 10,150 | |
| Republican | Judy M. Peavey-Derr | 37.1% | 5,980 | |
| Total Votes | 16,130 | |||
2010
- See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2010
Werk had no opposition in the May 25 primary. He ran against Lucas V. Baumbach in the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating him.[13]
| Idaho State Senate, District 17 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Elliot Werk (D)
|
5,665 | 60.6% | ||
| Lucas V. Baumbach (R) | 3,689 | 39.4% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Democrat Elliot Werk won re-election to the Idaho State Senate, District 17 receiving 10,120 votes, ahead of Republican T. Allen Hoover (5,183).[14]
| Idaho State Senate, District 17 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Elliot Werk (D) | 10,120 | 66.1% | ||
| T. Allen Hoover (R) | 5,183 | 33.9% | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Idaho scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the Idaho State Legislature was in session from January 6 through March 21.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Idaho State Legislature was in session from January 7 through April 4.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Idaho State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 29.
|
Idaho Freedom Index
- See also: Idaho Freedom Index (2013)
The Idaho Freedom Foundation, a conservative nonprofit organization, released its "Idaho Freedom Index" in 2013. The index was designed to show how Idaho legislators voted on the principles the foundation seeks to promote. It measured each state legislator based on how they voted on economic issues and on bills that created or eliminated government agencies, programs, and regulations. A higher score indicated that the legislator voted more in favor of the values supported by the organization.[15] Werk received a score of -88 points in the 2013 index, ranking 35th out of 35 members of the Idaho State Senate that were evaluated for the study.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Werk and his wife, Nancy, have one child.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Elliot + Werk + Idaho + Senate"
See also
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002
- Elliot Werk on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ KTVB, "Sen. Werk resigns to take tax commission job," February 17, 2015
- ↑ Elliot Werk, "Issues," accessed October 26, 2012
- ↑ Idaho Reporter, "New bike rules in Senate," April 1, 2010
- ↑ IdahoReporter.com, "Bike laws moves forward with some brakes," accessed May 23, 2014
- ↑ Idaho Reporter, "New bike rules in Senate," April 1, 2010
- ↑ Idaho Reporter, "Senate approves law mandating bikes’ brakes," April 1, 2010
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 12, 2014
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 20, 2014
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed July 7, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Idaho Secretary of State, "List of All Candidate Declarations for 2012," accessed March 15, 2012
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State – Elections Division, "November 6, 2012 General Election Results," accessed December 27, 2012
- ↑ Idaho Reporter, "GOP gain in Idaho House could trigger policy changes," November 3, 2010
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Idaho Senate official election results for 2008," November 4, 2008
- ↑ Idaho Freedom Foundation, "2013 Freedom Index," accessed August 19, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Idaho State Senate District 17 2002–February 2015 |
Succeeded by Maryanne Jordan (D) |
