Scott Herndon

Scott Herndon was born in Richmond, Virginia. Herndon earned a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in 1989. His career experience includes working as a custom homebuilder.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a self-taught home builder with a previous career in finance and computer programming, Scott Herndon built his own home in Idaho in 2005, acquiring skills which he developed into a full-time career as owner and operator of Scott Herndon Homes. In short order, it became a great success and a primary contributor to Bonner County’s booming housing market. A true family-values conservative, Scott’s sons help him with the family business.

As a Christian, a husband, and a father of eight, Scott believes in preserving and protecting human life. He has followed this in word and deed as an active Abortion Abolitionist and Pro-Gun advocate.

Scott has served his community for 5 years as a Bonner County jail chaplain and is now chairman of the Bonner County Republican Central Committee.

Married for 24 years to Arlene, Scott has resided near Sandpoint for 18 years. In his spare time, Scott enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the Gem State, boating on Lake Pend Oreille, and building a new workshop on his property. His five daughters all still live on the family farm, milking the family’s two milk cows and raising chickens and pigs. They are also talented musicians who have just started to publish their music online.

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?

End the Covid government declared state of emergency and its associated restrictions. Prevent such business and personal liberty restrictions from happening again (this includes medical freedom from jab coercion).Exercise Idaho’s state sovereignty by restricting federal intrusion into Idaho through massive debt-financed federal cash infusions to the state budget and federal programs and continued federal ownership claims on 63% of Idaho land.Tax relief in the form of reduced income taxes, elimination of the food (grocery) tax, and look at local government funding mechanisms besides the property tax.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Scott Herndon has a bill in the Idaho House that would outlaw all abortion in Idaho. Scott is also a staunch defender of the 2nd amendment with a case before the Idaho Supreme Court challenging a local city's ban on firearm carry in a publicly owned park. Scott has worked on four bills in the Idaho legislature on Child Protective Services reform.

Scott Herndon's highest priority is restoring to Idaho a balance of power between the state government and the federal government and between the several branches of government at the state level (executive, legislative and judicial),

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates by Matthew Trewhella and the Federalist Papers.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A legislator should arrive in office with a mission to restore and maintain the American constitutional republic and its boundaries between state and federal power and between the several branches of government. The legislator should only be in office for this mission and not for self-aggrandizement.

Legislators should study to understand the mechanics of the unique American system of government.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have a vision for limited and constitutional government with a particular respect for individual liberty. I am focused on this as a mission. Though not a lawyer, I have an aptitude for the law and for interpreting judicial opinions about the laws. I also focus on policy and policy differences and do not villify persons nor ascribe motives.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

The first job that I remember was when I was 15 and worked at the Murieta Equestrian Center in Ranch Murieta, CA. I worked there 6 days a week as a groom and a stable hand cleaning stalls, taking care of horses and maintaining the saddles and equipment and raking the riding arena. I held the job the entire summer between my sophomore and junior years in high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I just recently finished the unabridged Count of Montecristo by Alexandre Dumas. I loved the quality of the characters and the depth of the storytelling.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

In the American system, the legislature writes the laws, and the executive enforces the laws. There should be a cooperative relationship if possible, but these two branches of government are meant to act as a check and balance to each other. Sometimes there will be an adversarial relationship in certain circumstances, and that is healthy for the maintenance of the American Republic.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

State sovereignty. Four years ago, federal spending through the conduit of the Idaho state government amounted to 36% of Idaho's budget. Today, it has grown to 44% of the state's budget. With that, the federal government has set numerous conditions and controls over government services in Idaho. This should be resisted and reversed.

The same goes for the federal land ownership claims of the federal government which currently claims ownership of 63% of Idaho lands. This land should be controlled by the state of Idaho not by the federal government.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Idaho does not have a unicameral legislature. There is a benefit to two house of the state legislature since it increases the hurdles to bills becoming law and restrains the possibility of bad bills becoming law.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily. They should have real-world experience through family, work, business and education. The actual mechanics of legislating can be learned fairly quickly. In my case though, I have been active in the Republican Party for several years and as a citizen have run 12 bills in the Idaho legislature over the last several years.

That experience, though not necessary, will be helpful to make me more effective on day 1 when I am elected.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Legislators should always be polite to one another though they may disagree on policy. It is beneficial to form alliances with those you agree with on policy, and so of course maintaining relationships is a natural benefit to the process of effective legislating.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

While the governor probably should have the ability to declare and oversee emergencies for 30 days, he should be required to convene the state legislature for emergencies beyond 30 days, and the legislature should have the primary authority over the state of emergency beyond 30 days especially in regard to appropriations and the declaration of said emergency.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

It depends on the subject. On most subjects, I would set long term goals and ideal outcomes and be willing to work in collaboration with others as I work toward my long-term goals with the understanding that others may teach me things along the way.

On other very critical subjects I think compromise has led to disastrous consequences. The best example of that is abortion. State legislatures should have stood against the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, and the states should have defied the Supreme Court. Compromise has led to the deaths of 63 million American children over 49 years with no end in sight.

There should also be no compromise with those who want to infringe in the 2nd amendment, and there should be no compromise on medical health freedom. Individuals must retain the right to their own healthcare decisions without mandates and without coercion.