Luke Sommer
Name: LUKE SOMMER
Position Running For: Kootenai Hospital District
Phone: (208) 661-7597
Address: 10571 N CAMP COURT, HAYDEN, IDAHO 83835-0000, United States
Website:
Twitter:
Email: fastball46@hotmail.com
Tell us a little about yourself and your family, how long you have lived in the area and your occupation.
I am happily married to my beautiful wife Rowena. My 5 children are all grown up and out of the nest, and I have 8 grandchildren. I have lived in Kootenai County since 2008. I have been a licensed realtor since 1987, successfully selling real estate in California, British Columbia, and Idaho. I have also worked as an operating room orderly and Care Aid in assisted living facilities. I love the elderly and babies. And voters.
1. Do you have experience as an elected official and if so, what was your position, and how would you describe your voting record?
I have only been elected to non-governmental offices (see # 5). My voting record is as a Reagan/Trump conservative Republican.
2. Please tell us about your activity as a Republican. Have you previously voted for candidates of other parties? If yes, explain.
I was taken to the polls at my mother's knee. As a lifelong Republican, I voted for Republicans, except for the election of 1976. After Ronald Reagan lost that Republican primary to America's only non-elected President, I voted for Carter. At 20 years of age, I felt that Carter would get things done, for good or bad. I was right. I have regretted it ever since. Carter's reign of error ended with his last two years in office giving us double-digit unemployment, inflation, and interest rates. In 1988 I was the Republican nominee for the US House of Representatives (CA 13 - San Jose) and was invited to the White House to meet President Reagan. I have been repeatedly elected as a Republican Party precinct committeeman, served for many years as its parliamentarian, attended party conventions as a delegate, been the parliamentarian for the Rules Committee of the state central committee, and have been president or vice-president of many organizations. I have been a pastor and chairman of the board at another church.
3. What is the purpose of government?
The Declaration of Independence says it best: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
4. Describe why you are running for this particular office. What are your qualifications? What are your goals?
I’m running for this office because I believe the public deserves a voice in how our community hospital is governed. Kootenai Health was built by the people of Kootenai County, yet today it’s run by an unelected, unaccountable board—installed through a process that many of us believe lacked transparency and public consent. I’m stepping up because I want to help restore what was lost: trust, openness, and accountability in the hospital’s leadership. My background equips me to do this job. I am the only member of the National Association of Parliamentarians in the 5 northern counties. This board doesn’t run hospital operations—it provides oversight. That means listening to the public, asking hard questions, and holding leadership accountable. Those are responsibilities I take seriously. My goal is simple: to be a watchdog for the public interest. To advocate that decisions about our hospital are made in the open, with input from the community, and with the highest standards of ethics and transparency. I believe we can restore confidence in the system—but only if we shine a light on how it really works.
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.
In 1988 I was the Republican nominee for the US House of Representatives (CA 13 - San Jose) and was invited to the White House to meet President Reagan. I have been repeatedly elected as a Republican Party precinct committeeman, served for many years as its parliamentarian, attended party conventions as a delegate and helped formulate the party platform, been the parliamentarian for the Rules Committee of the state central committee, and have been president or vice-president of many organizations. I have been a pastor and the chairman of the board at another church.
6. Do you describe yourself as fiscally conservative? Please, elaborate.
Yes. Don't spend beyond your means. Save for a rainy day. If you earn 10 cents but only spend 9, you will have savings; spend 11 cents and you will have poverty. In government and personal finance, deficits should be avoided where proper financing is not possible; spending only to accomplish the goals and purposes of your authorized mission.
7. Do you consider yourself as socially conservative? Please elaborate.
Yes. I agree with our founding fathers that our rights and responsibilities come from God. Ultimately we will all answer to Him. Therefore, I am pro-life, support marriage between one man and one woman, believe in traditional family values, and understand there are only two genders. The US Constitution establishes the best form of government known to man. 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.: I agree with the Idaho Republican Party Platform and helped formulate it at our party's bi-annual convention in Coeur d’Alene in June 2024.
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. Though I have not had any tax liens, when my furnace system was replaced about 5 years ago, a lien was put in place to secure company financing. It was paid on time and in full.
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.
Email, phone, and public events.