Early Life and Education

Military service has been a consistent part of my family’s history. My great-grandfather fought in the Great War after immigrating to the US from Sicily. My grandfather served as an Army Air Corps pilot during World War II and was a prisoner of war. My father was an Army officer who served in Vietnam and retired in 1991. I come from a lineage of amazing men doing amazing things.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, I spent a significant portion of my childhood residing both in Germany and various locations across the United States. My parents eventually divorced; however, my sister and I lived with both parents at different times over the years. After a while my mother remarried to my stepdad. He was also an Army Vietnam veteran. He worked his whole career in Oregon’s wood mills, often facing layoffs and rehiring. My mother held several jobs over the years to feed us and keep a roof over our head. I remember eating puffed rice and powered milk for breakfast, and a potato for dinner.

During high school, I was involved in sports, and I did well in school. I wanted to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and become a pilot. Then Top Gun came out and so did every other kid. These formative experiences, and my family history, instilled a strong sense of duty in me, leading to my decision to enlist in the Navy upon graduating from high school.

Professional Career

Following deployments to Mogadishu and the Persian Gulf, President Clinton implemented a reduction in military personnel. As part of this process, I relocated to Washington State to start my Naval Reserve service. During this time, I applied to various law enforcement agencies and observed that Affirmative Action policies were prominent in Washington State. Eventually, I joined a small police department before pursuing other opportunities. My career later led me to Microsoft, where I focused on data and analytics and worked with some of the best leaders, including military veterans. Later, I assumed the role of Program Manager for Microsoft Advertising’s Programmatic Video, collaborating with companies such as Facebook and Viacom and building a massive business. These professional experiences provided insights into corporate operations and bureaucracy. After organizational changes and layoffs following a CEO transition, I applied my business knowledge to entrepreneurship, successfully managing a multi-million-dollar company with a small team. Running a small business also offered an understanding of state taxation practices.

Community Engagement

Community has always driven my work. Since joining the LDS church in 1996, I’ve held numerous volunteer roles. I was involved for many years with The Boy Scouts of America throughout my son’s Eagle Scout achievement. I served on the board of one of the largest beekeeping associations where I taught at WSU Puyallup for eight years, and eventually as president for two. There I assisted in OSU’s Master Beekeeping Program development. Currently, I am President of Rexburg Farmers Market, focusing on its growth and branding.

Why I Am Running

I am seeking public office because I believe it is up to me to help make a change. I have concerns about current legislative voting patterns that do not always align with conservative principles or party values, including instances of significant bipartisan support and reckless overspending. My goal is to contribute constructively to Idaho’s future and ensure our community is preserved.

Personal Life

I have a wonderful family that includes my wife, three daughters, a son, and two grandchildren. My schedule is consistently busy; in addition to holding a full-time job, I help manage our freeze-dried candy business at the farmers market and operate a food truck. When not engaged with these ventures, I typically spend time in my woodshop building new projects. If I get some time off, we enjoy camping, sightseeing in the area with my camera, or sending lead down range.

The Mistakes of Washington are Creeping into Idaho

After years of living in Washington State and seeing its decline, I realized we needed to get out. Our conservative values were not welcomed. We moved to Madison County where we call home. The people here welcomed us, even though we were transplants. Washington has made a lot of mistakes over the years, and I am seeing this here. I intend to stop this and keep Idaho Free.