Joyce Broadsword
Party: Republican
Age: 46
Personal: Married for 24 years to John Broadsword, 3 grown sons, 3 grandchildren. Lives in Sagle.
Education: Graduate Sandpoint Senior High 1976
Professional: 1978 - Present: Co-owner Northern Log Homes, (worked my way up from lathe operator to partner) Duties include: Customer Service, Sales, Office Manager/Bookkeeper, Quality Control, Public Relations 1993 - Present: Independent Courier for Pathology Associates Medical Laboratory
Political: County campaign coordinator for Congressman C.L. Butch Otter 2002 Campaign; Campaign volunteer for Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, 2002; U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, 1996-2002; State Sen. Shawn Keough, 1996-2004; State Rep. George Eskridge, 2000-2004. Member: Bonner County Republicans; Kootenai County Republican Women (vice chair); Greater Sandpoint Governmental Affairs Committee 2000-2004; grass roots activist for Idaho Women in Timber, 1993-2004, state president 1999-2001, current board director; Co-Chair, Federated Women in Timber (FWIT) 2002, delegate to Washington DC for FWIT 1996-2004
Key issues: 1. Lack of jobs is a huge issue. My opponent says poverty, but that is not the problem only the result. The Superfund designation and resulting loss of mining jobs has been one of the causes. We need to encourage new business while working toward retaining the industry we have. The mining community has been making great strides in trying to reopen some of the mines. We need to be sure that the environmental regulations are fair and take into account the human element. The increased efforts by environmental extremists to close down our forests have caused a huge loss of revenue for our communities and for the folks who live in them. I am hopeful that the president's healthy forest initiative will aid in keeping our mills and loggers working and that we can work toward restoring our forests to a healthy state for all to enjoy. 2. In Idaho, water rights and uses are a big issue. The Rathdrum Aquifer, Lake Pend Oreille, and Lake Coeur d'Alene all have unique problems or potential problems. We need to work out an equitable solution that will be fair to all concerned parties. 3. Taxes are always an issue. I will fight to reduce government spending while creating incentives for stronger Idaho businesses. I believe that additional reductions in spending must be made as a part of the solution to Idaho's current fiscal challenges. The sales tax increase is set to sunset in July of 2005. The increase was voted in for a short-term fix and a promise was made to the people of Idaho to take it off. That promise must be kept. With the huge boom in real estate sales and resulting tax valuation increases, many of our seniors are being taxed out of their family homes. We must find some form of property tax relief for our citizens on fixed incomes.
Money raised/spent: $2,372.80 raised as of June 4.
Top contributors: Major contributors included Senate Republican PAC, $350; Steve LaFrenz/Lake Rock Products, $200; John Snedden/Unicep Packaging, $100; loan from candidate, $500.
Key influence: My father.
Favorite book: A biography on Golda Meir titled Golda
First priority if elected: The first priority of any elected official is to see to the needs of their constituents whatever those needs are. I will work toward resolving their problems on any level that is necessary. I do not have a personal "agenda" just a willingness and desire to serve the people.
Website: http://www.idgop.org
Email: nlog@sandpoint.net
