Steve Pankey first ran for governor of Idaho in 2014 and received less than 2 percent of the vote. At the time, he was in the Constitution party, but now he's running as a Republican.
The former property manager for the Sun Valley Company lives in Twin Falls and says his Christian faith informs much of his conservative politics.
“Our founding fathers feared two things most,” says Pankey. “Ignorance was number one, and number two was concentration of powers.”
When asked about his solution to the estimated 62,000 people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid – but not enough to receive subsidies – Pankey says more competition among insurance companies is the solution.
“I want to go back to buying health insurance across state lines. I believe you will get better healthcare at lower prices, more companies in different states competing for Idaho people buying health insurance.”
Pankey says the key to improving Idaho student outcomes is to make sure there are technical school options for kids who might want to become plumbers and electricians. And as the state grows, he says the state can’t leave rural needs behind those of urban centers.
“What works in Boise might not work in a small rural community."
Pankey is one of seven Republicans running for governor.
Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio
