Jim Bratnober has announced he will run for Idaho State Senate in District 15. Bratnober ran in 2018 and lost to Sen. Fred Martin (R-Boise) by only six votes.
Bratnober said that after the 2019 legislative session, he knew that it was necessary for him to run again. “I came within six votes last time because District 15 needs someone in the legislature who will advocate for an Idaho that works for all of us. Voters in our district need a change in direction – they are fed up with the disrespect they are feeling from the Idaho legislature.
“Idahoans were promised access to affordable, life-saving healthcare, but then they had the rug pulled out from under them. Citizens from District 15 came to the statehouse, again and again, to plead with legislators not to add restrictions to Medicaid expansion, but they were ignored. Now, taxpayers may be on the hook for millions of dollars every year to pay for unnecessary, expensive government bureaucracy and restrictions on Medicaid expansion. District 15 voters need a senator who will be honest with them about what they are going to do in the legislature.”
“District 15 voters have seen the quality of their children’s education slipping and the legislature has refused to take action. Our outdoor treasures have been threatened but the legislature has not worked to keep public lands in public hands. Many Idahoans are struggling to pay for rising housing costs on only $7.25 an hour and they need relief,” Bratnober said.
“As I knock on doors in the district, I am hearing a lot of the same issues as last time and I want to bring those concerns to the statehouse. I will work hard to give every Idaho student access to a world-class education. We have to start preparing our kids for the jobs of the future so that Idahoans can compete in the global economy. If we want to have a strong economy in Idaho, strengthening our education system is key. If we want our kids to be able to enjoy our forests, lakes and wildlife when they grow up, we have to defend our public lands and keep them in public hands. Hardworking Idahoans want security for their families and the legislature needs to be creating opportunities for economic success. These and other issues have only increased my passion to serve.”
Bratnober is a retired Hewlett-Packard executive and business coach. He began as an engineer in the Boise facility and after several years of work, became director of manufacturing, and then the director of research and development. He now serves on the board of directors for the Idaho Youth Ranch and as a commissioner for Boise City Planning & Zoning. He served as a volunteer business coach in West Africa as part of Stanford University’s Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (SEED).