Doug Okuniewicz

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family, how long you have lived in the area, and your occupation.

I have been happily married for 21 years and have two teenage children. We have lived in Hayden, Idaho for roughly 15 years.

I am the president for two subsidiaries of a parent company that I have worked for since 1997. One is primarily a ground lease business that serves numerous trucking clients, including UPS, FedEx, Swift, and others. And, the other is an intellectual property management company. I am also part owner of a benefits consulting company based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Lastly, I am a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, where I am currently serving my first term.

2. Do you have experience as an elected official and if so what was your position and how would you describe your voting record?

Yes, in 2020 I was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives for Legislative District 2, Seat B.

I have always tried to vote in a manner that is representative of the people in my district. And, after my first year in the legislature, I was invited to CPAC 2022 to receive an award from the American Conservative Union who rated my votes as 100% conservative. Additionally, for 2021, the Idaho Freedom Foundation assigned me an “A” rating.

3. Please tell us about your activity as a Republican. Have you previously voted for those of other parties? If so explain.

I served as a Republican delegate for Kootenai County during the 2018 GOP convention held in Pocatello, Idaho over the weekend of June 28, 2018. I have also campaigned door-to- door for other Republican candidates. And, as stated before, I am currently a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives. I have never voted for a candidate from another party.

4. Describe why you are running for this particular Office and what are the qualifications and goals that you have. What is the purpose of government, in your own words?

As stated in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution, the purpose of government is to, “… secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…”

I am running for this office because I believe I can continue to build on my conservative voting record to help advance conservative policy in the Idaho legislature.

During my first term, I sponsored and passed tax legislation that keeps approximately $100 million in the hands of Idaho citizens each tax year that would otherwise have been sent to the IRS in Washington, D.C. I also researched, wrote, sponsored, and worked with fellow legislators to pass legislation that doubled fees for nonresidents at Idaho’s most popular state parks.

My goals are to serve Idaho residents first, reduce taxes, reduce government, and most importantly, to vote in a way that is consistent with the wishes of the voters in my district.

5. Describe the areas where you are or have been engaged in organizations, clubs or churches where you have been of service to others?

For the last 15 years, I have been president of a local nonprofit organization that has given over a million dollars to local charities including: Children’s Village, Open Arms Pregnancy Center, the Altar Church’s Good Samaritan rehabilitation program, the Heart of the City Church, Family Promise, STEM Charter Academy, CASA, TESH, Special Needs Recreation, local senior centers, food banks, and many others.

6. Do you describe yourself as Fiscally Conservative? If so how?

Yes, I don’t like spending other people’s money. At every opportunity, I am looking to cut fees and taxes for Idahoans. For example, in 2021 I authored and successfully ran House Bill 93, in order to stop a state agency from doubling fees for Idaho residents, and instead double fees for nonresidents at Idaho’s most popular state parks, including Farragut, Priest Lake, Coeur d’Alene Parkway (Higgins Point), and others. I also sponsored House Bill 317 in 2021, which resulted in Idaho business owners being able to meaningfully reduce their federal tax exposure, thereby allowing them to keep roughly $100 million of their hard-earned money instead of sending it to the IRS for the 2021 tax year.

7. Do you consider yourself Socially Conservative? If so how?

Yes. For example, I believe life begins at conception, that the government shall not interfere with the exercise of religious freedoms, that gun rights are a basic right, that one’s medical decisions are private, and that traditional family values are central to humankind’s successes, both past and future.

8. Which Party Platform best aligns with your positions on public policy (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Constitution Party) and where do you disagree with that Platform?

Republican Party. I have no disagreements with the state platform.

9. Do you have any history of tax liens, criminal record or conflict of interest which may affect your future decisions?

No.

10. Please describe how you will make yourself available to your Constituents and vote as their Representative with fortitude, adhering to the values you have stated above?

I welcome constituents to contact me via email at dougo@house.idaho.gov, and to call me while the legislature is in session at my capitol office at 208-332-1070 or on my cellular at 208-918-1495.

I have a documented conservative voting record. I routinely help constituents get answers to their questions. I have successfully worked to kill legislation that was not in the best interests of my constituents. And, I have also researched, drafted, sponsored, cosponsored, and worked with other legislators to pass legislation that is important to conservative voters in my district.