Mark Patterson
Mark Patterson is a former Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives, representing District 15B from 2012 to January 5, 2014. He resigned following the revelation that he pleaded guilty in a 1974 sexual assault case.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Patterson served on the following committees:
| Idaho committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Judiciary, Rules, and Administration |
| • Revenue and Taxation |
| • Transportation and Defense |
Campaign themes
2012
Patterson's campaign website listed the following issues:[2]
- THE AMERICAN DREAM
- Excerpt: "Patterson has always wanted to have the American dream that he remembered from the 50's. A family, a home and being able to support and protect one's family: this is the American dream. But Mark sees the American dream becoming harder and harder for people to gain because government has grown so large and the citizens are becoming servants to the government."
- BUSINESS AND TAX POLICY
- Excerpt: "It is difficult to keep a business going in Idaho with the numerous taxes Idaho puts on private businesses. This is not the America that we grew up in."
- RETURN SURPLUSES
- Excerpt: "In 2012 the state government is growing; a so-called surplus was spent to again fatten government budgets. Why haven't they given surpluses back to the citizens? Some euphemistically called this a sign of recovery. But, since 2008, a quarter of the Idaho budget was cut with no noticeable reduction in services."
- NEW TAX HIKES
- Excerpt: "Tax hikes have been put on the back burner until after the election. We need proven conservatives to hold back the government bureaucrats that are always promoting higher budgets. There are a few excellent men and woman in elected government in our State but not the number we need to get our State back on track so families and businesses can prosper."
- JOBS JOBS JOBS and OUR POSTERITY
- Excerpt: "Idaho needs jobs. Businesses refuse to relocate to Idaho, because there are 38 states with lower income tax. One of Mark's personal fears is that someday his daughters will get married. 'I am naturally protective. But, even worse, my son-in-laws may not find jobs in Idaho. They may have to find work elsewhere, taking my daughters with them. I'm not the only father who fears for the future of his children.'"
Elections
2012
Patterson won election in the 2012 election for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B. He defeated Curtis Ellis in the Republican primary on May 15 and defeated Steve Berch (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[3][4][5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Mark Patterson |
53.1% | 9,618 | |
| Democratic | Steve Berch | 46.9% | 8,481 | |
| Total Votes | 18,099 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Mark Patterson |
60.1% | 1,517 |
| Curtis Ellis | 39.9% | 1,009 |
| Total Votes | 2,526 | |
2010
Patterson was a Republican candidate for District 15B in the Idaho House of Representatives in the November 2, 2010, state legislative elections. Patterson was defeated by incumbent Max Black in the Republican primary on May 25, 2010.
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
Idaho Freedom Index
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.[6] Patterson received a score of 89 points in the 2013 index, ranking 14th out of 70 members of the Idaho House of Representatives that were evaluated for the study.
Noteworthy events
1974 criminal case
In November 2013, Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney revoked Patterson's concealed carry permit after he learned that the lawmaker failed to disclose a 1974 case in which the legislator pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit forcible rape. Republican officials from his district met and unanimously recommended he resign. Patterson tendered his resignation on December 20, setting his final date in the legislature as January 5, 2014.[1]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for "Mark + Patterson + Idaho + House"
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 idahostatesman.com, "Patterson tenders resignation, not valid until Jan. 5," December 20, 2013
- ↑ Mark Patterson, "Issues," accessed October 15, 2012
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "2012 primary candidates," accessed April 11, 2012
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "May 15, 2012 Primary Election Results," accessed 6 July 2012
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, “November 6, 2012 General Election Results,” accessed December 27, 2012
- ↑ Idaho Freedom Foundation, "2013 Freedom Index," accessed August 19, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Max Black (R) |
Idaho House of Representatives District 15B 2012–January 2014 |
Succeeded by Patrick McDonald (R) |
