Dick Compton
Party: Republican
Age: 71
Personal: Married to Janette Compton, Three grown children: Rick (deceased), Debra and Cindy. Five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Served in the Idaho National Guard for two years.
Education: Graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 1951. North Idaho Jr. College graduate. Bachelor's degree in business and economics from Gonzaga University in 1956. Graduated from a Harvard University business class for IBM employees.
Professional: Retired after 32 years with IBM.
Political: Elected to the Idaho Senate in 2001. Kootenai County Commissioner, 1995-2001.
Key issues: Funding education: Have to provide enough money for education, including colleges and universities. Property tax relief: Working on a bill to defer property tax increases for long-time residents. Water: Must resolve water issues in southern Idaho because that will drive a lot of other decisions in the state. But North Idaho must have its water issues included in any discussion, such as funding the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer study.
Money raised/spent: Raised: $17,788 Spent: $4,170 as of Oct. 25.
Top contributors: $250 Eli Lilly Co. $1,000 Idaho Committee on Hospitality and Sports. $400 from the Idaho Medical PAC. $250 from Anheuser-Busch and Assoc. of General Contractors. $250 from Liberty Northwest of Portland. $1,000 in-kind donation from Club at Black Rock.
Quote: "Providing enough money for education and funding our social responsibilities are going to be top issues. We need to provide money for higher education and balance the budget. It's going to be a tough financial year and we need the most creativity and imagination that we can get."
Key influence: Wife, a Gonzaga advisor and a few IBM mentors
Favorite book: "Alexander Hamilton" by Rob Chernow
First priority if elected: To try and do no harm. Always represent North Idaho with a strong voice at Legislature. And to represent in a professional and ethical manner.
Email: djcomp1@msn.com
