Moscow and the University of Idaho are in an uncommon situation — represented by both Democrats and Republicans in the Idaho State Legislature.
David Nelson, a UI graduate and former Latah County Democrat chair, plans to run against Republican Sen. Dan Foreman this fall.
Nelson said he’s wanted to run for office all his life, having learned politics from his father, who served as a county commissioner.
“I saw him gently and with attention listen to people and their concerns as he knocked on doors to gain their votes,” Nelson said. “I saw him in office work through difficult situations in a calm manner.”
Nelson said his father is a Republican, which he said gives him a unique insight on where constituents from both sides of the aisle land on critical issues.
“I know there are good people on both sides,” Nelson said. “To be a good legislator you need to be able to listen to your constituents and find a way to represent their values. Mr. Foreman seems to be willing to listen to people who agree with him, and with others, he has anger issues. I think listening to constituents is the big thing.”
Nelson said he grew up in Genesee, Idaho, graduated from UI, went to graduate school in Massachusetts and then lived in San Francisco, where he started a software company. He later sold that company in 1998 to a Japanese firm and promptly moved back to Moscow.
David Nelson
Nelson said he wants to focus on education funding, particularly to Idaho’s colleges and universities, as an alternative to subsidizing hiring by businesses.
“That workforce development I think focuses on low-wage jobs,” Nelson said. “I would rather educate our workers so they’re more capable.”
He also said he doesn’t want to pick winners and losers through case-by-case basis legislation.
Nelson said he is not in favor of a grocery tax repeal.
“We already have a refundable tax credit that probably covers a huge percentage of a food budget. A repeal could actually be regressive, helping more well-to-do people buy groceries.”
The last time District 5’s senate seat was held by a Democrat, it sent Dan Schmidt – someone Nelson has much in common with.
Schmidt said Nelson, as local party chair, organized town halls and meetings.
“I think he’s worked real well with the folks in the county to stay organized and stay active,” Schmidt said. “Dave was really good at organizing and understanding the things that you need to do to connect with constituents. I thought he had a very good sense of staying connected to the voters.”
Schmidt said he and Nelson had a good working relationship when he was in the senate.
“Dave and I would talk about bills all the time that came through the legislature when I was serving,” Schmidt said. “He would have a perspective on it that might be different than mine.”
Nelson said he shares many policy stances with Schmidt. He wants public lands to stay public and wants to work toward Medicaid expansion in Idaho.
Schmidt said he strongly endorses Nelson’s candidacy.
“I think he’d be a great representative,” Schmidt said. “He knows the rural nature of outside of Moscow and he lives here in Moscow.”
Nelson said one of his biggest reasons for running is to work against Idaho’s supermajority government. Often, issues proposed by the minority of Democrats are not discussed on the senate or house floors or even in committee.
“I would use as my model for working with the majority how Dan Schmidt worked,” Nelson said. “He was calm. He worked behind the scenes. When an issue was important enough he worked out front. When you’re a small minority party you need to pick your spots.”
Nishant Mohan can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NishantRMohan