Heidi Smith-Takatori
For Idaho District 9
Heidi Smith-Takatori is a lifelong Idahoan, a rancher’s daughter, a veterinarian-turned-pastor, and a battle-tested conservative stepping up to defend Idaho’s
values in the State Legislature. With roots in Salmon and a career spanning agriculture, animal care, education, and ministry, Heidi brings a rare combination of real-world experience, constitutional conservatism, and moral clarity to her campaign for House District 9.
A valedictorian of Capital High School, Heidi holds degrees in Animal Science and Veterinary Science from the University of Idaho and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University. For nearly two decades, she ran a successful equine practice in Oregon before witnessing firsthand how unchecked government power and bureaucratic overreach can destroy livelihoods. Rather than give up, Heidi returned home to Idaho and began a new chapter—serving her community as a teacher, and ultimately as a Presbyterian pastor in rural congregations across Salmon, Emmett, and Homedale.
Heidi’s deep involvement in Idaho Republican politics traces back to her youth, when she campaigned for her uncle, the legendary Idaho GOP activist Bob Smith. After returning to the Gem State in 2000, she grew increasingly alarmed by the disconnect between the GOP’s conservative heritage and the establishment politics she saw in Boise. That concern turned into action: she testified in committee hearings, helped grassroots candidates, and was elected as a Precinct Committeewoman in Canyon County in 2024.
Now, she’s running to reclaim House Seat 9A for true conservatives who believe in limited government, parental rights, Second Amendment freedoms, and protecting the livelihoods of Idaho’s farmers and ranchers.
A fiscal hawk, Heidi supports curbing runaway budgets, reforming Idaho’s education system, and overhauling bureaucracies like the Department of Agriculture, which she believes has strayed from serving the people. She’s also a steadfast defender of life and a life member of the NRA who has long advocated for school safety through responsible concealed carry by trained staff.
Heidi’s journey—from veterinary medicine through loss and reinvention, to the pulpit and political activism—has shaped her into a principled, resilient leader ready to serve her neighbors with integrity and resolve. She and her husband, Sherman Takatori—a retired Army Captain and respected figure in Idaho’s agriculture community—live in Parma, where they enjoy a quiet life of faith, service, and enduring commitment to the country they love.
Why I’m Running
District 9 is largely a conservative district when it comes to fiscal responsibility and family values. Our economic base is largely agricultural, with additional income coming from natural resources and small-town businesses. Our district deserves a Representative who is a true fiscal conservative, and is also well-versed in agricultural issues, land use issues, and natural resources.
After watching my opponent vote to spend money as if taxpayers have bottomless pockets, I knew I had to run. In the 2025 legislative session, he voted to spend over $1.45 BILLION above the state maintenance budgets. (See bills here.) Overall, the 2025 legislative session grew our state budget by about 5%–while our population grew by only 1.5%. In nearly 450 votes on the House floor, he only found his “NO” button 20 times. In his position as a member of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee, he voted against bills that would have benefited agriculture. He also failed to use his position to question the decay in the ISDA—particularly in the Plant Industries and Agricultural Resources Divisions.
I’m running to curb egregious spending, to say “NO” to big government, and to give a fair shake to our farmers and ranchers. I’m also running to represent the family values of District 9, which include parental rights, school choice, and protecting our kids. I’m Heidi Smith-Takatori, and I’d appreciate your vote in May.
The Issues
Standing Up for Family Farmers
Heidi Smith-Takatori believes Idaho’s agriculture policy must serve the hardworking growers and ranchers who feed our state—not the insiders and bureaucrats in Boise. She’s committed to restoring practical, on-the-ground support for family farms.
Idaho Agriculture, Not Idaho Swamps
Boise insiders have turned our agriculture department into a playground for politically connected elites. Career bureaucrats, crony contracts, and cozy relationships with lobbyists have replaced expertise, accountability, and results.
Property Tax Relief and Budget Discipline
Idaho families are being squeezed by rising property taxes while government grows unchecked. Heidi believes it’s time to stop funding wasteful bureaucracies and start protecting taxpayers.
Parental Rights and Education Accountability
As a former educator, stepmother, and pastor, Heidi Smith-Takatori knows that families, not the state, are the primary decision-makers in a child’s life. She will defend the rights of parents to raise, educate, and protect their children according to their values.