Nearly four dozen people met Saturday at the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center to attend a Pizza and Politics session. So many people attended that additional chairs and tables were set up and more pizza was ordered.
“We’ve been doing (Pizza and Politics) for the last couple of years,” said Kathryn Marsh, Latah County Democrats chair. “It’s important that our community makes sure that they are knowledgeable and informed by their legislative representatives.”
Marsh introduced Idaho State Senator David Nelson and House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding. According to his campaign website, Nelson — inspired by his father — entered the political realm ten years ago and has worked for the Democrats ever since. Erpelding said he became involved in politics after the Luna Laws passed in 2011.
“I decided to get involved as an intern,” Erpelding said. “So as a 37-year-old intern, I worked in the legislature for the minority and I taught at (the College of Western Idaho) at night, so I just arranged my schedule to be able to teach at night. The person that I interned for decided not to run again and I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right contacts and decided to run. It was legitimately unexpected.”
The Luna laws were a series of three laws which, National Public Radio reports, “made sweeping changes to the state’s education system.”
Nelson led the session by discussing his work in Senate committees. Both Nelson and Erpelding focus on transportation, health and education. The two most discussed issues of the afternoon were Medicaid and early childhood education.
“In the long run, education is the most important issue in Idaho. If we don’t have a good education system, we’re not going to have good jobs for our children when they grow up,” Nelson said. “I do think this year, Medicaid expansion is the number one issue on my mind.”
Nelson and Erpelding opened the floor to questions from their constituents after they introduced these issues. Citizens asked many questions about details on Medicaid expansion and the changes that would come as a result of alterations to education policy.
Latah County Commissioner Tom Lamar made an appearance along with many community members involved in school boards, Citizens United and other community involvement groups. Constituent and community member Sue Byrne emphasized the importance of getting involved.
“I’m somewhat of a feminist, I guess,” Byrne said. “Idaho has not always been as progressive on that issue and I think the Democrats are.”
Civic action — from attending Pizza and Politics to getting out to vote — plays an important role in making democracy work. Byrne encourages others to join her in getting involved in their communities and in politics.
“Get involved locally,” Byrne said. “Write letters and send cards (to politicians.)”