Idaho House of Representatives District 21A candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Idaho, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Idaho House of Representatives District 21A who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 21A

James Petzke defeated Josi Christensen, Daniel S. Weston, and Mike Long in the general election for Idaho House of Representatives District 21A on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Petzke (R)	62.2	10,829
	Submit photo	Josi Christensen (D)	29.8	5,191
	Submit photo	Daniel S. Weston (Constitution Party)	5.1	881
	Submit photo	Mike Long (L)	2.9	503

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,404
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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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.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Mike Long (L)

Repeal the sales tax, individual income tax and property tax on owner occupied residential property

Abolish eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture and qualified immunity

Abolish occupational licensing and restrictions on small businesses in zoning and planning laws

James Petzke (R)

Property tax relief is my highest priority as a legislator. If we want to get a handle on the skyrocketing cost of living in our state, giving people relief where they need it most is a good start.

Idaho has the potential to have an amazing education system, and with some innovation and smarter funding mechanisms we can make it world class.

I want to keep Idaho home by defending our conservative values and our unique quality of life.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Mike Long (L)

Taxation, individual rights, personal liberty

James Petzke (R)

Economic issues are the ones that I am the most passionate about. I think the federal government has made some serious missteps in recent years with its massive spending binges and unneeded stimulus plans. This has led to our current astronomical level of inflation. I unfortunately won't be able to directly tackle that issue, I do want to find some ways to help Idahoans who are struggling with the increased cost of living. I'm also very passionate about education. I went through Idaho public schools from kindergarten through Boise State, and my parents are both public school teachers. I've seen many of the problems with our education system first hand and am excited to help make forward progress for our schools and for the future of our state.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Mike Long (L)

The least energetic and ambitious people should be legislators. No one should be elected that seeks the power or status of an elected officer. Legislatures should be composed of people resistant to the idea of a new law or rule and only begrudgingly accept the need or usefulness of a new law after strong evidence of that need is presented.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Mike Long (L)

Resist all attempts to restrict freedoms and liberties and under no circumstances allow individual natural rights to be infringed by government.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

James Petzke (R)

My first job was as a computer technician intern at the Blaine County School District when I was a freshman in high school. Basically I spent all summer going around to every classroom in the district and fixing/updating computers and making sure that every teacher had the technology they needed functioning properly. I did that job for two years and then did web programming for the district for two more.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Mike Long (L)

The executive legislative offices are complimentary and adversarial at the same time. In matters of universally beneficial and proper governance there would be cooperation and in the case of one attempting to over reach the boundaries of good governance, there should be conflict and resistance.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Mike Long (L)

Growth will challenge land use, water rights, and general peace and harmony. Idaho has enjoyed a long history of a more or less homogenous population with common goals and ideas. The rapid and recent demographic change (racial, social, religious, wealth, etc) is going to strain the relational ties that have benefitted Idaho for many generations.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Mike Long (L)

Only so far as they would be familiar with and comfortable navigating procedures, rules and customs. Otherwise, incumbency necessarily breeds complacency and entitlement.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Mike Long (L)

Legislators who have the best outcomes in mind and who favor erring on the side of trusting the people will naturally have good relationships.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Mike Long (L)

The government has demonstrated that it can’t be trusted to use emergency powers sparingly and wisely so that privilege should no longer be afforded to it.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Mike Long (L)

When a government is attempting to make laws outside its legitimate function than compromise is necessary. When the laws proposed are well within the limits of a functional and universally beneficial government, compromise isn’t necessary.

See also

More about these elections:

• Idaho House of Representatives elections, 2022

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