Morgan sets sights on District 9 slot
By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 10:44 AM PDT
PAYETTE — Since moving to Idaho 21⁄2 years ago, Payette resident Jennifer Morgan, 39, had seen some legislation she disagrees with passed by the state legislature.
Now, she wants to do something about that.
Morgan tossed her hat in the ring as the Democratic candidate for the Idaho District 9 House of Representatives seat. District 9 represents Adams, Washington and Payette counties and one precinct in Canyon County. Her Republican opponent, Judy Boyle, is from Midvale. They are vying for the seat currently held by Diana Thomas, whom Boyle defeated in the primary.
Thomas was serving out the remainder of the term of Clete Edmunson, who was appointed as one of Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s field representatives.
“I’m running because I feel our current Legislature is not representing people like me ... the current working class in the state,” Morgan said.
Pieces of legislation she disagreed with included increasing the sales tax during a special session and voting down a local option tax that would have allowed government bodies to vote to increase the sales tax locally to use for local needs.
If elected, Morgan said she would work toward removing the sales tax on food, which she said is a strain on many families and seniors in the state, as well as border grocery stores, who have to compete against stores in Oregon and Washington, which don’t have sales tax on food.
“That’s the main issue I’m running on,” Morgan said.
In addition, she said she is also concerned with providing extra help for those businesses in the state to succeed, and she said she wants to work toward making businesses more of a priority at the state level.
“I think we need to make sure small businesses are supported in the state of Idaho,” she said. “I’m not 100 percent sure how to do that at this point, but I think that’s something we need to do.”
While she doesn’t have any legislative experience, she has taken a background role in the political process in Washington state, where she moved from, as a member of the Municipal League of King County, which evaluates candidates running for office.
She has also chaired various committees that evaluated candidates and their issues.
Morgan, who was born and raised in a small town in Montana, said, to better understand the concerns of possible constituents, she has been going door to door and speaking with area voters.
While rising fuel prices was the top issue at the beginning of the summer, the economy is now the most-frequently raised concern.
“In fact, I haven’t talked to anyone that was happy about the bailout,” she said.
Morgan said, while she has encountered a few people who did not want to talk to her, most have been willing to share their thoughts, so she feels positive about running for office. She said she knows, if elected, to get things done, she’ll have to work with Republicans. However she said she believes by working toward plans that reflect voters’ wishes, Democrats and Republican lawmakers can be successful.
When she’s not running for office, Morgan owns and maintains several rental properties with her husband and also runs her own in-home candle business.
From now until election day, however, she’ll continue to hit the pavement and talk to voters.
“I think with my plans to continue to go door to door between now and then to get my name out there, I feel good about my chances,” she said.
