Voter Guide: Rick Cheatum (R)
Party:
Republican
- Website: https://www.cheatumforidaho.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cheatumforidaho/
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- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheatumforidaho/
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Q: Tell us about your background, including your education, career experience, public service, and any previous political involvement. What experiences have best prepared you to serve in the Legislature?
I moved to Idaho in 1977 to run a radio station purchased by the company I was working for at the time. My working career included broadcasting, automobile sales and management, and several roles in credit unions. I have been quietly involved in politics my entire career, helping to write broadcast ads and serving as Treasurer for the Bannock County Central Committee for 2 years. After retiring in 2017, I ran for Seat 6 on the Pocatello City Council and was elected for two terms of 4 years each. In 2021 I chose to run for an open seat in Legislative District 28 and was elected. I was re-elected in 2023 and am currently seeking election to a third 2-year term.
I have found my experience on the CIty Council to be very valuable in serving on the Idaho House Local Government committee. While on the Council, I also served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Idaho Cities and spent 8 years attending regular meetings of the board discussing city problems and legislative issues affecting local government.
Q: If elected, what would be your highest legislative priority, and what specific policies or actions would you pursue to address it?
I did not seek election to the Idaho House with a political agenda. Every bill brought to the committees I serve on, Local Government, Revenue and Taxation, and Business, are evaluated on how they would affect District 28, the entire state of Idaho and future generations. I have had constituents bring me a couple of issues they would like to see addressed this session and we are currently analyzing the source issue and considering legislative solutions. House leadership traditionally brings big issues that circulate early in the session, but those are usually not disclosed to many other legislators until they are vetted through pertinent constituent groups and affected state departments. I expect to see bills on budgets, water issues, education, medicare, housing, and health care occupy a good deal of the session.
Q: Many families are concerned about rising costs of fuel, housing, groceries, health care, and other essentials. What role should government play in addressing inflation and improving economic opportunities, and what specific steps would you support?
Most of these issues are private enterprise and the government, whether local, state or federal, should stay out unless they can provide help, not more regulation. Economic opportunity often comes with better education and training. Our state and country has a workforce shortage that can be helped with a better system of child care, automating processes, and better preparing the workforce we have to compete for the really good jobs.
Q: Immigration remains a major issue at both the state and federal levels. What is your position on immigration policy, and what role, if any, should state government play in addressing immigration-related concerns?
Immigration is a federal issue, not a state or local issue. We need a comprehensive reform of immigration and guest worker programs, but those need to be solved in Washington, D.C., not Boise Idaho. Idaho's economy heavily depends on guest workers, but needs year-round provisions, not just 9-months.
Q: Access, affordability, and workforce shortages continue to challenge the health care system. What do you see as the biggest health care issues facing residents, and what solutions would you advocate for?
I see a need for more affordability in not only health care, but also in health care insurance. However, I will rely on those who work in medicine and insurance to propose paths forward to reduce individual costs of both. As only a subscriber to insurance programs, and user of health care, I have no expertise to draw from to propose changes. I have built a network of hospital administrators, physicians, insurance agents, and others to rely on to make good decisions when these issues arise.
Q: As lawmakers consider state budget priorities, what level of funding do you believe public schools should receive? What factors shape your position, and what outcomes would you hope to achieve?
I am very concerned about a lack of funding provided to rural and small enrollment districts and schools. I have 6 school districts in my legislative district and each year meet with them to discuss needs. It always seems to come down to a lack of funding for mandated programs, the most recent being under funded special needs students. Continuing to ignore the needs of education at every level, pre-K, K-12, and beyond high school, will mean future generations will be unable to successfully compete in the world job market.
Q: Looking at the most recent legislative session, what do you think lawmakers got right, what did they get wrong, and what changes would you advocate if elected?
The inaccurate forecast of state revenue combined with the Constitutional requirement to balance the budget and an unwillingness to draw on reserves, resulted in unnecessary budget cuts. State wages no longer compete with the private market, our transportation system at the local and state level isn't keeping up with needed maintenance, and mental health programs have been forced to reduce services. Idaho has a responsibility to deliver services at the state level and many of my constituents have told me they don't want another income tax reduction when these services are reduced.
Q: What is one issue that has not received enough attention during this campaign, and why do you believe voters should care about it?
I think a big issue is the lack of understanding of how government really works. Each Legislator has one vote. There are too many claims that a challenger to an incumbent will change the law and that is not how it works. The need is to work within a caucus to build consensus and gather the votes to amend and pass good legislation for the entire state. In Idaho, the Republican super-majority in both the House and Senate makes the Independent and Democratic voice impotent. The important numbers are 36, 18, and 1. 36 of the 70 members of the House, 18 members of the 35 in the Senate and the Governor.
