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.

Heidi will:

  • Work to restore the broken partnership between the Idaho Department of Agriculture and the University of Idaho’s Extension Service, once a national model for agricultural collaboration.

  • Fight to eliminate layers of unqualified bureaucracy at ISDA and bring back subject-matter experts who understand crops, pesticide safety, water use, and farm-specific challenges.

  • Push for agency reform that prioritizes plant-side agriculture equally with animal industries—orchardists, seed growers, and crop producers have been left behind for too long.

  • Make sure Idaho farmers and ranchers—not unelected bureaucrats or out-of-state lobbyists—have a real seat at the table.

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.

Heidi will:

  • Expose and oppose backroom deals and politically motivated appointments that have undermined ISDA’s credibility and performance.

  • Push back on IACI influence and demand transparency in how state contracts and research dollars are awarded.

  • Restore integrity to state service by holding agency leadership accountable for failed programs and mismanagement that hurt real farmers.

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.

Heidi will:

  • Champion real property tax reform that protects homeowners and landowners from runaway assessments and levy creep.

  • Support tighter budget accountability for state agencies—including zero-based budgeting and independent audits.

  • Oppose unnecessary new spending and programs that grow government instead of helping Idahoans.

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.

Heidi will:

  • Oppose woke curriculum mandates and protect local control over school content and standards.

  • Support expanding school choice and protecting the right to homeschool without government interference.

  • Stand against any state agency or official who tries to undermine parental authority in health care, education, or moral instruction.