Idaho’s Democratic Party had a rough election in 2014. But the state party has a substantial staff in place, led by Sally Boynton Brown.
Idaho Politics Weekly asked her to respond to a few questions concerning her role and the future of the Idaho Democratic Party.
What did you do before becoming executive director?
Prior to my political career, I was in childcare for 13 years, which was the perfect skill building foundation to be successful with all the different personalities and conflicts inherent in the political world. I got involved in politics in 2006 after completing my B.A. in Communications from BSU. I ran two successful legislative campaigns and played a key role in Keith Allred’s 2010 bid for governor. In 2011, I began working for the Idaho Democratic Party as a field director, moved into a communications role, and became Executive Director in 2012.
What are your priorities for 2015 and 2016?
We have come a long way and we have accomplished a great deal. We’ve grown our party, our presence, and our reputation. Our base infrastructure -- staff, finances and programs -- are all secure and running smoothly. The 2015/2016 election cycle is about moving to the next level. We are about to embark on a journey the party hasn’t had before. In the recent past, we built up infrastructure and stabilized ourselves but we did not have leadership and staff who had been through more than two election cycles. Now, we have the opportunity to make history over the next two election cycles. We are prepared and excited for this next step. We will continue to hold GOP leaders accountable to the people of Idaho and dominate the political dialogue to ensure that the issues most important to Idahoans are debated. We will continue to protect women’s rights, workers rights and our children’s futures.
What race or races are you particularly concerned about in 2016?
The presidential election will be at the heart of our 2016 election activity. We also have federal races, which will be the foundation of our electoral work. It is important to us to field strong candidates around Idaho in as many races as possible so no Republican goes un-challenged.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Last year I spent a little less than two-thirds of my life dedicated to this cause. I am passionate and love the work I do. My belief that our party is creating a better Idaho for our children sustains me. I eat, sleep and breathe this work. What little time I have left over is dedicated to my husband and our beautiful daughters who are 17 and 15. We just got back from a week-long surf camp in Costa Rica and we had a blast laughing and playing.
Steve Taggart is an Idaho Falls attorney specializing in bankruptcy (www.MaynesTaggart.com). He has an extensive background in politics and public policy. He can be reached atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
