Idaho State Senate District 17 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Idaho, 2022

---

On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • School boards • Municipal

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Idaho State Senate District 17 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 State Senate District 17

Incumbent Carrie Semmelroth defeated Benjamin Chafetz in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 17 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carrie Semmelroth (D)	59.8	10,094
		Benjamin Chafetz (R)	40.2	6,790

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,884
= 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.

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

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

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?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Freedom and independence are essential to a functioning state. What has transpired for the past two years should never have been endured by free people. I will be a voice for those that believe that their bodies are their own. For people that choose to engage in whatever actions or behaviors they desire with respect to their own person.

I will fight wasteful spending and excessive taxation. Idaho families have experienced massive tax increases in the past few years. If we curb spending we can certainly cut taxes.

Housing. We need to find new ways to make sure that Idaho families can see their children afford to stay in Idaho. "Affordable housing" is not affordable, nor has it ever made the housing market more stable. Let's find ways together to do that, one of which could be further de-regulation of businesses in Idaho to foster higher wages and more entrepreneurs. Small businesses can absolutely bring about job growth and prosperity for all. Let's help them grow.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

One area of public policy I am personally passionate about is getting the government out of people's way. I believe that Americans, especially Idahoans, should have the right to manage their property, and or charge (excluding abuse), as they see fit up to the line of infringing on another person's property and or charge. This to me is the very definition of freedom. The Idaho legislature is here to serve the people, manage disputes, and to enforce the laws that Idahoans want for themselves. This issue is what I am most passionate about and, if elected, it will be a guiding principle for me. James Madison once said, "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." I live by this quote and whenever a bill comes to the floor I will measure it by what he said.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I look up to James Madison because I believe his writings and research are what led to the greatest country in the world.

I also look up to Dinesh D'Souza and Jordan Peterson for their individual abilities to reason, research, and convey information in a highly cohesive and thoughtful manner.

My parents for providing me with much-needed guidance at times and thoughtful criticisms when I needed to be brought back in line. My parents are amazing people who are fun, caring, and highly generous. I am inspired to provide their approach to parenting to my son who will be born this fall.

There are many more who I could name but these names stood out when I read this question.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Dinesh D'Souza put my political philosophy in perspective in a 6 minute video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEM4NKXK-iA

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Remembering that they are a public servant and that they are there to listen and serve at the people's will, not their own.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Honesty, Strength of character, and Accountability to God and my family. Also, I love Idaho and want to keep it for my family. I know what it's like to live elsewhere and I never want to leave this state again.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I believe the core responsibilities of someone elected to office are to serve their constituents and keep the government from interfering in their lives.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

When I leave office, I want to know that when people examine my tenure, that people see I fought to preserve and expand freedom and individual sovereignty.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

The first major political/historical event I can remember is Bill Clinton's impeachment. I had just turned 11 years old.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

For my first job, I worked for my father's company copying video tapes and recording test scores into a database.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Ender's Game is probably my favorite book. I enjoyed the adventure of it, the way I related to the main character, and the journey he went on. I have also met the author and found him to be very insightful and a wonderful teacher.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Captain America. His sense of integrity and honor is second to none. Big Steve Rogers fan.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I love my Truck.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

My biggest struggle I would say is to determine who the good guys were in government. It took me a while but in 2011 when I watched a video of Dinesh D'Souza articulating the dangers of government interfering in transactions between two individuals or parties. He explained how government intervention will inevitably strip the virtue out of any transaction. This moment helped me to understand why free "anything" was not necessarily free nor virtuous. That struggle had a profound impact on my life and allowed me to determine when someone was acting in the interest of the people and when they were not.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

The governor should endeavor to execute the law and allow the legislature to create law. Neither should ever encroach upon the other.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

The economy and the eventual housing market crash, are two of the greatest issues that I expect Idaho will face in the next decade.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

This is not something I have researched at this time, but from what I understand, it was Benjamin Franklin who suggested that all financial legislation would come from the US House in order to keep the states from taking advantage of each other. I think this was a brilliant solution at the time, and I see no reason why that should change. That being said, I am open to learning more.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I think that experience breeds wisdom but there are two sides to this coin. Tenure can often breed complacency and or corruption. I believe that corruption is still alive and well and it should be fought. As soon as a legislator forgets that he or she is a public servant, they should leave office. That being said there are plenty of lessons learned that novices to office are very green on, ie diplomacy and that is something that should be fostered.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Absolutely, relationships are how we are able to perceive other perspectives beyond our own. If we can ascertain a person's motivations and understand their intentions perhaps we can find more solutions to problems we just haven't thought of yet together.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I don't know enough about this issue to comment intelligently but would be open to hearing ideas on the best method moving forward.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I would want to be a part of the "state affairs" committee.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I believe Ron Nate has always acted in the interest of his constituents and I would like to emulate him in that regard.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

Perhaps. I haven't held this position yet, so I can't say for certain.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I have heard from many people in my district already that they are furious over property tax increases and the fact that their children cannot afford a home. This is why I am making it a priority to address this issue if I am elected.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

When Chuck Norris jumps in the water, he doesn't get splashed. The water gets Chuck Norrised.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

In the case of an emergency, yes they should. That being said they should also absolutely oversee the use of those powers.

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

Benjamin Chafetz (R)

I believe that in order to achieve the best outcomes for the constituents of Idaho, it is imperative that we have people in office that can be "bridge builders" and find new solutions to complex problems.

See also

More about these elections:

• Idaho State Senate elections, 2022

Select a district below to read responses from candidates in those races:

District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13District 14District 15District 16District 17District 18District 19District 20District 21District 22District 23District 24District 25District 26District 27District 28District 29District 30District 31District 32District 33District 34District 35Submit