University of Idaho lobbyist Joe Stegner may be in Boise now, but the Vandal alumnus” roots are just down the Lewiston hill.
Stegner serves on the President”s Cabinet, and his main responsibility is to advise UI President Chuck Staben on state government, as well as how the politics and political players might affect UI.
“My role is to try to help educate the legislature about what the University of Idaho needs and what they”ve requested,” Stegner said.
With this year”s legislative session just beginning, it”s a busy time for Stegner.
“My focuses are concentrated on the legislative session, the budgeting process, what goes on in the legislature, what bills are being produced, what impacts the University of Idaho,” Stegner said.
Stegner said he begins his days with budget committee hearings and various other presentations, business lunch meetings and often evening meetings as well. Stegner is tasked with keeping track of what is being proposed and UI”s stance on each proposal.
Stegner
He talks to members of the Idaho legislature, legislative staff, reporters, the State Board of Education staff or the governor”s office routinely to inform them of what UI is interested in and happenings at the university.
“My day is filled up with keeping track of that kind of stuff,” he said.
The tables turned for Stegner four years ago. Before he became the person informing others about UI”s priorities, he was the one being informed.
“Joe really brought a wealth of internal knowledge to the university in this role,” said. Kent Nelson, UI General Counsel. “He has significant experience having been a state senator for a number of years. He knows the ins and outs.”
After graduating from UI, Stegner operated a grain elevator business in Lewiston. He then moved on to represent Lewiston in the Idaho Senate for 13 years, holding titles of assistant majority leader and chair of the Local Government and Taxation Committee.
When UI offered him his current position, Stegner said he resigned from the Idaho legislature and prepared to move to Boise full-time with his wife.
“It”s not very easy to pick up an entire household and move it,” he said.
Since stepping into his role at UI, Stegner said he keeps busy year-round by working on various projects working closely with UI”s vice presidents and general counsel.
“I thought I knew what I was getting into, but I didn”t know exactly,” Stegner said. “Because of the good presidents I”ve worked for so far, they”ve been very kind in including me in a variety of other processes that run the university. I didn”t know I would be involved in a lot of that stuff and I”m very grateful I”ve been included in that.”
“I enjoy working with stegner a lot,” Nelson said. “He”s very good at what he does.”
Katelyn Hilsenbeck can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Katelyn_mh