W. Lane Startin

W. Lane Startin was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He earned a high school diploma from Twin Falls High School and a bachelor's degree from Idaho State University in 1996. Startin also attended the College of Southern Idaho. His career experience includes working as a technician, freelance writer, call center manager, and insurance agent. As of 2024, Startin was affiliated with the Southern Idaho chapter of American Mensa.[1]

W. Lane Startin has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Send a message to W. Lane Startin asking him to fill out the survey.

If you are W. Lane Startin, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 32,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask W. Lane Startin to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing lane@lanestartin.org.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a lead field service technician for a major medical technology company. Having lived and worked throughout the country, I returned home after many eye-opening and satisfying experiences. I am an alumnus of Twin Falls High School, College of Southern Idaho, and Idaho State University.

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?

Upholding the Twin Falls tradition of moderationPersonal choiceRestoring local option

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Personal liberty, education and growth

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Cecil Andrus. For decades, he was instrumental in making Idaho work. He did it by listening.

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

Moderation and a willingness to listen to and incorporate the ideas of others.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Passing legislation to ensure the most efficient government possible while also fulfilling our state constitutional obligations.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Iran hostage crisis

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Tom Sawyer" by Rush

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

Growth, maintaining personal freedoms and resisting political extremism.

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

It's advantageous, but not absolutely necessary. One has to start somewhere.

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

Absolutely. It is just as important to work with others in the Legislature as it is to truly work with my own constituents.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Former Idaho Sen. Ron Beitelspacher

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Perhaps, but that's not something I'm thinking about right now.

What committees interest you?

State Affairs, Business, Education

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

They are of paramount importance, a basic requirement of the office.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

The ballot initiative process should be made easier, similar to how it was 10-15 years ago.