Ian Stenseng
Party: Democrat
Age: 24
Personal: Single, no children. Grew up in Olympia. Relatives homesteaded in the Clark Fork area of Bonner County.
Education: Graduated from William Winlock Miller Sr. High School (Olympia)in 1998. Bachelor's degree in digital media from Evergreen State College(Olympia), 2002.
Professional: Currently works for imPro, an independent media production firm in Spokane. Previously did freelance graphic design and medial production. In college, worked as a network administrator for a Seattle Veterans Administration hospital.
Political: First run for public office. Lifelong involvement in Democratic politics, coming from a "good union family." Volunteered on numerous political campaigns.
Key issues: Living wage jobs: We don’t get living wage jobs by pandering to special interests. With innovative thinking we can work to provide incentives to bring new jobs and industry to Idaho, including high-tech and bio-medical jobs. Tax breaks for small businesses is one idea but there are lots of other incentives such as good roads, quality of life, hospitals, schools. Affordable, quality health care: Aren’t many employers who don’t want their employees to have access to health care. Need to sit down and work with employers to figure out a way to get people affordable health care. Fully-funded public education: We need a Legislature that obeys the law. It's in the state Constitution to have publicly-funded education.
Money raised/spent: Raised: $5,010 Spent: $4,442 as of Oct. 25.
Top contributors: $100 donations from Jerry Shriner of Coeur d'Alene and Jeanne Batson of Worley. $350 from William Kersting of Hayden Lake. $200 IDA-PACE. $200 IBEW Local 77 PAC of Seattle.
Quote: "There's a lack of balance and representation in the Legislature. I'm running to support and represent people my age, who are looking to get started in life, get married and buy homes. We can't do it in North Idaho right now. I myself don't have health insurance and I work in Spokane."
Key influence: Howard Dean
Favorite book: "Go East, Young Man: The Early Years" by William O. Douglas
First priority if elected: Getting the lay of the land and figuring out the best way I can use the access I have to serve the people of North Idaho.
Website: www.ianstenseng.com
Email: stenseng@adelphia.net.
