Justin Plante

Justin Plante lives in Kimberly, Idaho. His career experience includes working as a youth sports coach and diesel mechanic.[1]

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I’m a journeyman mechanic, not a politician. I actually fix things. I don’t just talk about fixing them.Transparency starts with audits, audits, and more audits.

Why are we paying for the same thing twice?

I’m going to open the books so we can find out together.No new taxes. Fraud and waste savings will be reallocated to where they should have been in the first place, improving the quality of life for us Idahoans.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Rooting out government waste so tax dollars stop disappearing and start helping Idaho families.

Redirecting savings to fix roads, recharge aquifers, and make housing affordable for longtime residents.

Putting Idahoans first in jobs with local-hire preference in state deals.

Keeping taxes low by using audit savings instead of raising them on working people.

Making government accountable with monthly public reports on Transparent Idaho and a Citizens Oversight Task Force of regular Idahoans.

Campaign websitePlante's campaign website stated the following:AUDITSGetting real answers and fresh data starting day oneI'm not waiting around for old audit reports or the same slow processes that let waste pile up for years. As governor, I want to know what is happening right now in the state government. Current spending, current problems, current waste. We can fix things fast, not after the damage is done. Right now, most state audits are done by the Legislative Services Office (financial audits every 1 to 3 years for agencies) or the Office of Performance Evaluations (deeper program reviews when the legislature asks). Those are important, but they are often backward looking, take time, and do not always catch issues in real time. Recent examples like the Luma accounting system rollout causing major errors, hundreds of millions in misstatements, duplicate payments, and weak controls show problems that got exposed long after they started, not while they were happening. This plan flips that. Immediate action for up to date information, combined with citizen eyes and better tools.What I'll Do Day One as GovernorIssue an executive order directing every state agency and department to conduct a thorough internal financial review right away. Look at current budgets, ongoing contracts, recent payments, payroll, and operations. These are not full external audits (those take longer and need legislation), but focused internal checks for any red flags, duplicates, overpayments, or inefficiencies happening now.Require agencies to report detailed findings publicly within the first 60 to 90 days. No hiding behind "it is complicated." Everything goes on Transparent Idaho for you to see.Direct full cooperation with the State Controller's Office to push near real time data into Transparent Idaho where possible (for example, reducing lags on transactional data beyond the current two week buffer where safe).Use the Citizens Task Forces (one per major department) to review these fresh internal reports, cross check with public data, analyze citizen tips coming in hot, and recommend fixes based on current realities, not outdated numbers.This gets us actionable, fresh insights fast. Things like unusual spending spikes this month, contracts awarded recently that do not add up, or programs not delivering as promised are identified right now.How This Differs from What's Happening TodayToday's system is solid in some ways, but it is not built for speed or real time fixes. Here is the clear difference:Current audits (Legislative Services Office and Office of Performance Evaluations): Mostly backward looking. Financial audits every 1 to 3 years per agency, performance reviews only when legislators request them. They look at past fiscal years, often taking months or years to release. Problems like Luma's rollout (2023 implementation leading to 2025 audit findings of misstatements worth hundreds of millions, duplicate payments over 30 million dollars, unverifiable cash balances, and control weaknesses) were caught after the fact, not prevented or spotted early. The system relies on the legislature to start things, and results can sit or get debated quietly.My approach: Forward focused and immediate. Day one executive order forces agencies to review current operations and report publicly in 60 to 90 days. Fresh data on what is happening this quarter, not last year. The governor directs it directly (using executive authority to require reports and cooperation), so no waiting for legislative cycles. Citizens Task Forces jump in right away with real world knowledge to analyze the latest data for patterns and red flags. Everything hits Transparent Idaho fast for public scrutiny. This creates pressure to fix issues now, not years later.In short: Today's setup is like checking your car's engine every few years after it is already smoking. This plan pops the hood on day one, gets volunteers looking at the current warning lights, and starts fixing things before they break down. We still feed findings to the pros for deeper checks.What I'll Push the Legislature ForLegislation requiring independent external audits of all major agencies on a more frequent, rolling basis (not just every few years), with results posted publicly and immediately.Stronger laws to make Transparent Idaho truly real time for more data types, including mandatory integration from local governments so we see the full picture of state related spending.Resources for the Attorney General and auditors to follow up on any serious issues uncovered in these fresh reviews.How We'll Verify Fresh DataCross check everything: Internal agency reports + Transparent Idaho data + citizen tips + AI analysis (scanning for patterns in current transactions, like duplicate payments or odd trends).Public scrutiny: All findings posted openly. You, the media, and watchdogs can question and verify.No old data only: While we use historical audits for context, the priority is current and forward looking. What is broken today and how to fix it tomorrow.How This Connects to Other ReformsAudits are the verification engine for the entire plan. They spot overlaps and low-return programs in budgets, contracts, grants, workforce outsourcing, and permitting delays. Findings feed directly into budget reallocations to cut waste and protect essentials and into procurement enforcement to verify disclosure and limits. Citizen tips from audits help workforce reform prioritize high-turnover areas and grant reform identify misuse. Results support faster permitting by highlighting inefficient reviews. The three housing reforms use audit findings to verify outcomes and ensure funds deliver real results. This pillar ensures every other one delivers real and measurable improvements with no more hidden problems.Answers to Common QuestionsWhy focus on internal reviews instead of waiting for pro audits?Because I can do this immediately under my authority (the governor can require reports and info from agencies). It gets fresh data flowing without needing new laws first. Pros (like Legislative Audits) still do their work. We feed them our findings to speed things up.How current is the data we will get?As current as systems allow: payroll nightly, transactions with minimal lag (push to shorten it), budgets and contracts real time where posted. Citizen tips add instant ground level intel.Won't audits slow down agencies and create more paperwork?Audits use existing data where possible and are spread out over time. They save time in the long run by cutting waste. Pilots show quick wins without big disruption.How do we make sure good programs are not unfairly cut?Audits look at results and efficiency, not just spending. Citizen input and public data keep the process fair.How does this connect to the budget reform?Audits identify waste that feeds budget reallocations. They help agencies meet performance targets and protect frontline services.How does this connect to procurement and contracts reform?Audits verify disclosure, limits, and performance in contracts to catch fraud or abuse after awards.What about small agencies or rural programs?Audits are scaled to size. The citizen team includes rural voices to protect what works there.How will we measure real improvement?Through the yearly scorecard on Transparent Idaho: dollars saved, services improved, and citizen feedback.What if an audit finds waste but the agency says it is essential?The process is about results, not claims. Public data and the citizen team give everyone a voice to decide.How often will audits happen?Every agency gets reviewed on a rotating schedule, at least once every four years, with spot checks in between for high-risk areas.What if agencies drag their feet on these internal reviews?I will direct full cooperation and make any resistance public. The Citizens Task Forces will call it out, and we will refer big issues to the AG or legislatureCost?Low. Agencies do their own internal checks (they should already have controls for this), volunteers handle review with Grok (low or no cost), public posting uses existing Transparent Idaho.How does this tie into Citizens Task Forces?Each department's task force gets the fresh internal review for their area first, digs in with real world knowledge, and pushes recommendations based on today's problems. This is about truth in real time, not waiting for perfect audits years later. Waste does not fix itself. We catch it now, save money now, and make government work better now.TransparencyMaking government open so you can see exactly where your money goesI am a regular guy who believes you and I both deserve to know what is happening with our tax dollars. No secrets. No excuses. As governor, I will make government information easy to find, understand, and use. Right now. Not someday.Transparent Idaho is already a solid tool run by the State Controller's Office. It shows state spending, payroll, contracts, and more. But it has room to improve. Data has lags, search can be clunky, local government info is spotty, and getting answers through FOIA or tips is not as simple as it should be. This plan fixes that. We start with immediate upgrades under my authority, then push the legislature for bigger changes to make transparency the default, not an afterthought.What I Will Do Day One as GovernorIssue an executive order directing all state agencies to work with the State Controller to enhance Transparent Idaho fast.Add better search tools so you can find payments, contracts, or vendor details in seconds, not hours.Make payment details clearer with plain English descriptions, breakdowns by program or project, and easy filters.Build one-click FOIA request options right on the site for faster public records access.Add an anonymous tip submission form tied to the Citizens Task Forces so anyone can flag waste or issues without fear.Push agencies to feed more near real time data where possible, reducing unnecessary lags while keeping fraud protections.These changes use existing systems and tools. No big new spending. Just smarter use of what we have.What I Will Push the Legislature ForLegislation requiring all local governments (counties, cities, school districts, and others) to fully integrate their spending, budgets, and payroll into Transparent Idaho. One statewide view, not scattered sites.Laws to shorten data lags safely and expand real time or daily updates for more categories.Stronger rules for advance public notice of hearings, clearer disclosures on taxes and fees, and better public school spending breakdowns.How This Differs from What's Happening TodayToday's transparency in Idaho is decent but limited and not always user friendly. Current setup: Transparent Idaho provides state level data like payroll (updated nightly), transactions (two week lag for fraud prevention), and local budgets or audits (annual or quarterly). Search works but can be basic. FOIA requests go through separate channels with delays. Local governments have their own sites or reports, not fully connected. Anonymous tips exist in some places but not centralized or tied to oversight.Public polls in 2026 show Idahoans want more: advance hearing notices, clearer spending details, and overall accountability. Problems like Luma system errors showed data issues were not caught or shared fast enough.My approach: Immediate and practical upgrades from day one. The governor directs agencies to improve the site with better search, clearer details, one click FOIA, and anonymous tips linked to Citizens Task Forces. We push for full local integration and shorter lags through legislation. Citizens get tools to dig in themselves, share findings, and help task forces spot problems. This makes transparency active and ongoing, not just a portal you check once in a while. Regular people get real power to watch and question, with AI like Grok helping analyze what is posted.In short: Today's system is like a filing cabinet with good stuff but hard to search and missing pieces. This plan turns it into a user-friendly dashboard that is easy for anyone to use, updated faster, and connected statewide so you see the full picture without hunting around.How We'll Check It WorksWe will keep it honest with:Public dashboards on Transparent Idaho showing data update frequency, search usage, tip resolution rates, and performance metrics.Regular audits of data accuracy, timeliness, and agency compliance.Citizens Task Force to review transparency reports, take public input on usability, and recommend improvements.Yearly report on data lag reductions, tip volume, FOIA response times, and citizen satisfaction.Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.How This Connects to Other ReformsTransparency is the visibility layer for the entire plan. It makes budget allocations, procurement spending, audit findings, workforce vacancies, grant outcomes, and permitting timelines visible to everyone on Transparent Idaho. Citizen tips from the portal feed into audits and the Citizens Task Forces for review. Accountability relies on transparent data to enforce consequences. The three housing reforms, mental health response, veteran transition, rural broadband, and other crisis fixes use public tracking to show real results. This reform ensures every other one is open and accountable with no more hidden problems.Answers to Common QuestionsWhy build on Transparent Idaho instead of starting new?It already exists and works well for state data. We improve what is there instead of wasting money on something from scratch. Agencies can make changes quickly under executive order.How current will the data be?We push for more near real time where safe (payroll is already nightly). Transaction lags shorten with better tools. Local data comes in fully and more often through legislation.Won't faster data uploads be too expensive or burdensome?No. We use existing Transparent Idaho and agency systems. Pilots test efficiency first, and savings from waste reduction cover any upgrades.How do we protect privacy with more public data?All postings are aggregated or anonymized where required. Individual records stay protected under existing privacy laws.What if agencies or locals resist upgrades?I will direct state cooperation and make any pushback public. Task forces and public pressure will help. Legislation forces local governments to join.Cost to taxpayers?Low. Use the existing portal and staff time for improvements.How does this connect to the budget reform?Transparency shows budget allocations, results, and reallocations in real time so citizens can verify funds go to priorities.How does this connect to procurement and contracts reform?The portal tracks contract awards, vendor payments, and performance, making disclosure and limits visible to all.How does this connect to agency performance audits?Audit findings and progress are posted publicly, so citizens can see waste being fixed.What about rural areas with limited internet access?Reports are available statewide, and we prioritize mobile-friendly tools. Citizens Task Force includes rural voices to ensure usability.How will we measure real improvement?Through the yearly report on Transparent Idaho: faster data lags, higher tip resolution rates, and citizen satisfaction.What if tips are false or malicious?Tips are reviewed and verified before action. The process protects whistleblowers and prevents abuse.How does this tie into Citizens Task Forces and Audits?Task forces rely on Transparent Idaho for fresh data to review. Enhanced search and tips make it easier for volunteers and citizens to spot issues. Audits feed into the portal for public view. This is about trust. When you can see the numbers clearly and easily, the government has to be accountable.Citizens Task ForceVolunteer groups of everyday Idahoans overseeing each major state departmentI am not here to create more government jobs or big committees. As governor, I will create multiple Citizen Task Forces via executive order. One for each major state department. These will be made up entirely of unpaid volunteers who know these systems from real world experience. No salaries. No perks. Just regular Idahoans who want to help clean up this mess. Nurses for Health and Welfare, truck drivers and road workers for Transportation, teachers and parents for Education, former corrections staff or families for Corrections, and so on. They volunteer because they want Idaho to work better for their kids and grandkids' future.Each task force focuses on one department at a time. Review budgets, audits, citizen tips, and operations. Spot waste, fraud, or inefficiency. Make practical recommendations. We will use AI to help volunteers scan and analyze huge amounts of public data quickly, without drowning in paperwork. This is not replacing professional auditors. It adds real world citizen eyes where the experts often miss the day to day problems. Proactive and citizen led from day one. This puts regular people with firsthand knowledge in the driver's seat for ongoing oversight, not just one off input. It creates constant pressure for fixes instead of waiting for legislative requests or annual reports.Many small holes will still sink the ship. The citizen task forces will have the mission of plugging those small holes.The ProblemIdahoans want a real voice in how their government spends money and runs programs, but current oversight is top-down and reactive. Citizens rarely get to review fresh reports, analyze ongoing issues, or provide input before decisions are made. Agencies and lawmakers operate with limited real-world feedback from everyday people who know local needs. This leads to policies that miss the mark, waste that goes unnoticed, and a lack of trust that government is working for the people.What I'll Do Day One as GovernorSign an executive order to establish Citizens Task Forces in major departments using existing authority. Right away:Create task forces of eight to fifteen volunteer Idahoans per key department (such as Health and Welfare, Transportation, Education, Correction) with real-world experience in the field.Direct each task force to review fresh public agency reports, audits, budget submissions, and public tips using existing data tools and simple AI assistance (example: for pattern analysis).Require task forces to post first public findings on Transparent Idaho within sixty to ninety days of receiving materials.Launch pilots in three to five departments to test task force operations, tip intake, and resolution tracking, with results posted in ninety days.Use existing agency support and volunteer structure (no new spending required).This uses powers I already have to form advisory committees and direct agency cooperation. No new laws needed first.How This Is Different From NowRight now, citizen input is limited to occasional public comments or hearings. There is no ongoing, department-specific group of everyday Idahoans reviewing real data or providing timely feedback. This way creates proactive, expert-led task forces that review fresh information, gather worker and local tips, and make practical recommendations for fixes. It enforces existing advisory committee authority more effectively, gives citizens a real seat at the table, and ensures government hears from the people it serves.What I'll Push the Legislature ForEasy laws to make it permanent:Establish standing Citizens Task Forces in major departments with clear roles and public reporting requirements.Require agencies to provide task forces with timely data, reports, and access to public records.Mandate public posting of task force recommendations and agency responses on Transparent Idaho.Strengthen protections for citizen volunteers and whistleblowers who provide tips.No big new spending. Task forces are volunteer-based with minimal support from existing agency staff.How We'll Check It WorksWe will keep it honest with:Public postings on Transparent Idaho of task force reports, recommendations, and agency responses.Regular audits of task force operations, data access, and implementation of recommendations.Citizen feedback portal to rate task force effectiveness and suggest improvements.Yearly report showing tips received, recommendations made, actions taken, and impact on services.Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.How This Connects to Other ReformsThis pillar gives everyday Idahoans the power to review reports and tip off issues across the plan. It feeds audits with real-world input to spot waste in budgets, contracts, grants, workforce, permitting, and housing projects. Transparency tools make task force findings public alongside other data. Accountability ensures agencies respond to recommendations. The three housing reforms, mental health response, veteran transition, rural broadband, and other crisis fixes benefit from citizen oversight on local impacts. This reform ensures the plan stays grounded in real, current Idaho needs.Answers to Common QuestionsWhy Multiple Task Forces (One Per Department)?One giant task force could get overwhelmed or too general. Department specific groups let volunteers go deep. Understand the unique rules, budgets, and pain points in that area. It spreads the work so volunteers are not burned out. It shows we are serious about fixing every corner of state government, not just skimming the surface.How do we make sure task forces are fair and not biased?Members are everyday Idahoans with real experience in the field. All meetings and recommendations are public on Transparent Idaho for scrutiny.Why Use AI?AI helps us move fast and dig deep without big taxpayer costs, but every finding gets human review by the task force, experts, myself, and/or the AG. If something looks off, we cross check with official sources and get expert input before going public with the findings. No assumptions. Just factual data reporting to restore trust in our government.What about privacy?Privacy and security first: Only publicly available data gets used. No personal info, no confidential citizen records. We will follow Idaho data privacy laws and be fully transparent.Would the task forces have to be in Boise?Only if the member lives there. Given that only public data will be used and that these are volunteer opportunities, this can be done from home anywhere in the state. The purpose is to open the door and empower those doing the research in their free time anyway as well as ensuring citizen tips are received and reviewed.Legal authority and structure?The Governor's executive order power lets me create multiple volunteer advisory task forces immediately. Idaho governors do this regularly. Each is advisory: reviews public data, tips, and reports. Recommends fixes. They complement existing auditors (Legislative Services Office, and so on). Legislation later can strengthen them.Subpoena power?None for the volunteer task forces. That is for legislative committees or the AG. Serious issues get referred there right away. As governor, I will direct full agency cooperation. Volunteers' public findings create pressure.Verification of findings?Cross check against official records, multiple sources. AI flags issues. Volunteers verify and get expert input when needed. All verified findings are presented publicly for you or the media to scrutinize. Corrections happen openly within the law.Conflicts of interest?Mandatory disclosure of any ties to the department. Conflicts mean recusal. Ethics policy, background checks. Diverse volunteers plus full public view prevent bias. Many regular citizens are digging into Transparent Idaho anyway. I just want to give them a direct line to the governor's office and the AG to produce real accountability instead of the information getting “lost in the mail.”Qualifications for volunteers?Real experience trumps degrees. For each task force: Idaho residents with relevant firsthand knowledge (for example, frontline workers, families impacted, small business owners dealing with regs).Must haves: background check, volunteer commitment, confidentiality agreement. Open applications. Select for balance and common sense. Short training on basics, including how to use AI efficiently.How many task forces? Timeline?Start with 4 to 6 priority ones (biggest budgets or problems) in the first 60 days. Expand gradually. First findings in 3 to 6 months from the time.Cost to taxpayers?Near zero. All volunteers, low or no cost AI tools, virtual or in state meetings. Savings from uncovered waste pay for themselves many times over.Agency resistance?Full cooperation directed by me. Pushback goes public fast. Volunteers spotlight it, I back them up.How does this connect to transparency?Task force findings and recommendations are posted publicly on Transparent Idaho so citizens can see and follow up.How does this connect to audits?Task forces review audit reports and provide citizen context to help prioritize and interpret findings.How does this connect to accountability?Task force recommendations trigger public pressure and AG review when agencies fail to act on waste or poor performance.What about rural or small department needs?Task forces include rural voices. Reviews scale to agency size, ensuring small offices are not overlooked.How will we know if task forces are working?Public reports on Transparent Idaho will track tips received, recommendations made, and actions taken. Citizen feedback helps measure real impact.AccountabilityReal consequences for waste fraud and corruption no more slaps on the wristI am tired of seeing our tax dollars wasted or stolen with little real fallout. As governor I will make sure bad actors face consequences. No more excuses. No more quiet settlements. We catch problems through audits transparency and citizen task forces then we act on them hard and in the open. The Attorney General already handles investigations and prosecutions in Idaho. But too often agencies slow walk cooperation or cases drag on without public updates. This plan changes that. We partner closely direct full cooperation and keep you informed every step.The ProblemWhen waste, fraud, or poor performance is found, action is too slow or too quiet. Investigations drag on for years. Agencies stonewall requests. Cases often settle privately with no public explanation or real consequences. This lets problems continue, erodes trust, and makes Idahoans feel government protects itself instead of protecting their money and services.What I'll Do Day One as GovernorSign an executive order to strengthen accountability using existing authority. Right away:Partner with the Attorney General to require full agency cooperation in investigations of waste, fraud, or abuse.Mandate monthly public town halls to update Idahoans on major cases, findings, and actions taken.Direct agencies to flag potential issues from audits, task forces, and public tips for immediate review and referral to the Attorney General.Launch pilots in three to five agencies to test faster referral processes and public updates, with results posted on Transparent Idaho in ninety days.Use existing resources to support Attorney General investigations and public communication (no new spending).These steps use existing authority and tools. We make accountability happen now not after scandals blow up. This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing law enforcement authority. No new laws needed first.How This Is Different From NowRight now, investigations are slow, agencies resist cooperation, and outcomes are often kept quiet. There is no regular public update on progress or consequences. My way partners with the Attorney General for faster action, requires monthly public town halls, and ensures issues from audits and task forces get immediate attention. It enforces existing laws more effectively, makes accountability visible, and ensures real consequences instead of quiet settlements.What I'll Push the Legislature ForEasy laws to make it permanent:Require agency cooperation in Attorney General investigations of waste, fraud, or abuse.Mandate mo