RESPONSIVE
ATTENTIVE
CONSERVATIVE
IDAHO STATE REPRESENTATIVE 25 A
ABOUT LANCE
Back in 2012, after 18 ½ years as a member of the Twin Falls City Council, serving as Mayor for six of those years, people close to me said "It was time!" It was time to offer my experience as a community, professional and political leader to the people of Twin Falls as an Idaho State Representative for District 25. I have now served District 25 for the past 12 years and am seeking another two-year term. Over the past twelve years, I have served the district and the legislature as a member of the Idaho House of Education, Business and Local Government Committees. In 2014 legislative leadership asked me to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Business Committee, which I held until 2018 when I was asked to Chair the House Education Committee. In 2022, following a tremendous turnover in House membership and Chairs, I was asked to take over the vacant Chairmanship of the Business Committee, which I currently Chair. I continue to serve as a member of both the Education, and Local Government Committees.
Friends and family of my youth would tell you this was not my destiny. Our parents never let the vision that their two boys would go to college fade. My brother was the first in our family to graduate from college. School was never easy for me, but I did respect the importance of hard work and study.
I take pride in the fact that I worked my way through college (in four years) with scholarships, work study, student loans and part-time jobs. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from California Lutheran University in 1969, while achieving several academic honors.
My brother and I often talk about our youth and are glad that we did not have a government to tell us we were poor. By today's standards we would have found that we lived beneath the poverty level for much of our childhood. Yet both of our parents worked hard to keep food on our table and a roof over our heads.
Tough times included periods of unemployment, family health problems, caring for aging family and a forced sale of our home because of eminent domain. Despite these periods of challenge for our parents, other than unemployment checks, our parents were self-sufficient and taught their sons that hard work (on and off the job) is always a way to achieve your goals. Now that I have advanced my leadership from the Twin Falls City Council to the Idaho House of Representatives, hard work and study are needed to assure that my district is properly represented. These are values and habits necessary to assure that I do not fail to be prepared for the new challenges of the legislature. Thanks to your continued support, I will continue to work hard as your Representative.
We are now in the middle of the 2024 Legislative Elections, which includes the May 21st Primary and November 5th General Election. On December 5, 2024, the Idaho Legislature will re-organize during a two-day Organizational Session. This session, which often only lasts for one day, will include the election of the Speak of the House, Appointments of Committee Chairs and Committee membership appointments. I am optimistic to return for my 7th two-year term and anticipate that I will continue, where most needed, as a Chairman.
On January 6th, 2025, the first session of the 68th Idaho Legislature will convene with the traditional State of the State message from the Governor. Over the past twelve years I have been a member of the House Education, Business and Local Government Committees. With a new legislature it is common that members will find new assignments to best balance the House of Representatives. Whatever the assignments, you can be assured that I will continue to advance the following Areas of Emphasis.
AREAS OF EMPHASIS
Education
Providing lifetime educational opportunities for future generations is a proven public expectation and a state mandate.
Economy
Jobs and financial security depend on a strong economy through private investment with a fair and balanced tax policy.
Expectation
Citizens have an expectation that their representatives will consider the intended as well as the unintended consequences of legislation.
Enable
Government should enable positive behavior of individuals and industry, while promoting personal and corporate responsibility.
Experience
A lifetime of experience as a civic, professional and public leader will provide the citizens of District 24A a responsive, attentive and conservative representative.
A PROVEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FOCUSED LEADER
Public Service Experience
Idaho House of Representatives - 2012 - Present
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Education, Business & Local Government Committees
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Vice Chairman Business Committee 2014-2018
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Chairman Education Committee 2018 - Present
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Chairman Business Committee 2023 - Present
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City of Twin Falls
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City Councilman (18 years)
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Mayor (6 years)
Gubernatorial Appointments
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“Our Kids, Idaho’s Future” Education Task Force
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Early Childhood Education Advisory Council
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Idaho Public Transportation Advisory Board
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ESPA Comprehensive Aquifer, Planning Committee
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5th District Magistrate Commission
Idaho Association of Cities
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Past President & Board Member
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Legislative Chairman