John Boothe
Name: John Boothe
Position Running For: Commissioner East Side Highway District Sub Zone #2
Phone: (208) 819-1572
Address: 21803 E. Doyle Rd., Cataldo, ID 83810, United States
Website:
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Email: jwboothe32@hotmail.com
Tell us a little about yourself and your family, how long you have lived in the area and your occupation.
My great grandfather, John Wesley Boothe, operated the first taxi company to service Coeur D Alene and later found himself in the real estate business. So my roots go back pretty far. Upon his death he deeded property on the lake to the East side district to become Boothe Park as he was a board member. I've lived in N. Idaho my whole life. After working at the Bunker Hill until their closure in 1982, I got a degree in Radiation Safety Technology and began a career as a Radiation Control Technician travelling to commercial nuclear power plants across the nation providing coverage at refueling outages. I always returned to N. Idaho during my non-work periods to develop our property and enjoy the hunting, fishing, and skiing. I'm nearing retirement and a chance meeting with the Highway department's staff regarding an issue with the deed at Boothe Park, I was presented with the idea of helping with future projects in the capacity of commissioner. I thought that it would be a good opportunity to give back to the community...so here I am.
1. Do you have experience as an elected official and if so, what was your position, and how would you describe your voting record?
No. And my involvement in politics has been quite minimal, not because of apathy, but rather because I was just a busy guy. A typical year for me found me in the woods chasing elk into Sept. Travelling to somewhere and working 84 hours/wk in the nuclear field during the fall and spring when I should have been home tending to my civic duties. By the time I slowed down I was in my 50's. I registered at some point as unaffiliated because I enjoyed the flexibility of identifying as an Independent. I find it allows me to embrace the values of both parties. So I guess you could say that I vote right down the middle.
2. Please tell us about your activity as a Republican. Have you previously voted for candidates of other parties? If yes, explain.
See above. I've voted for Republican candidates.
3. What is the purpose of government?
To serve it's citizens’ interests.
4. Describe why you are running for this particular office. What are your qualifications? What are your goals?I was asked by the Highway department staff and as you see it's in my heritage. The late Terry Sverdsten was a family friend and I admired him beyond words. When I left the Bunker I was a locomotive crane operator at the Hi-line. It sparked an interest in me of heavy equipment that followed me through my life. Developing property has a certain element of road building associated with it. When my friends were buying toys, I was purchasing excavators, skidsteers, and bull dozers. In my professional career I deal with getting the job done in the most extreme conditions. Without getting too wordy, imagine taking a group of New Jersey boiler makers and being sent into a reactor cavity tasked with detorqueing a reactor pressure vessel and getting them out safely in high levels of an unseen hazard such as radiaoactivy in it's many forms. I developed a reputation in the industry as being someone who the utility supervision could count on to get things done so that they didn't have to face the effects of the ruthless regulators. My goals in life are to live responsibly and pass those values to my grandchildren. My goals as highway district commissioner are to learn and become as good as I can be.
5. Describe experiences where you are or have been engaged such as non-profit organizations, clubs, churches, boards, commissions, etc., where you have been of service to others.
I've donated time to Habitat for Humanity in an unofficial capacity. I consider myself a very spiritual person and look to God for much guidance. I'm a very charitable with my time helping neighbors.
6. Do you describe yourself as fiscally conservative? Please, elaborate.
I've always been very practical with my earnings. When my co-workers were out travelling the world during their non working time, I was coming home to Idaho and learning about building. I built our home with very little outside assistance. I started by building the sawmill. Then felling trees, cutting lumber and crafting a timber frame, energy efficient home. Then doing it again for my daughter and her children. Paying as I go without ever accruing a mortgage.
7. Do you consider yourself as socially conservative? Please elaborate.
My family values are paramount, my religious values my own and God's, my patriotism unwavering, and as I said, I'm down the middle politically but retain the constitutional right of free thought and take that very seriously.
8. Describe which party platform best aligns with your positions on public policy (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Constitutional Party) and where do you disagree with that platform.
My political knowledge is pretty naive. I'm more of an in the dirt, get-er-done kind of guy. I identify as an Independent because I don't like labeling myself or restricting my ideology. I've just never given much time and energy to politics. Perhaps you could think of my political brain as a lump of clay ready to be sculpted.
9. Do you have any history of tax liens, criminal record, bankruptcy or conflict of interest that may affect your future decisions or desirability to be voted into office?
No
10. Describe how you will make yourself available to your constituents and vote as their representative with FORTITUDE, adhering to the values and answers you have stated above.
I teach my grandchildren that self-control and self-discipline are the 2 most important human qualities. If they spend their energy developing those, that life will fall into place naturally. The fundamental problem with that statement is that it implies a focus on the 'self'. As primal beings this is a factor that is built into our DNA. The survival of the fittest analogy. I believe an effective leader needs to consciously remind himself of this point and let the interests of others come before their own. Period. I'm eager and willing to take any advice from the commission on making myself available to the constituents.