Who’s running for Legislative District 21? What the candidates have to say

The contenders for the Idaho Legislature’s District 21 in Meridian are weighing in on their priorities for changes in the state.

The sought-after seats are one in the Senate and two in the House of Representatives.

Senate: Treg Bernt vs. Mike Long

In the Senate race, Repbulican incumbent Treg A. Bernt faces Libertarian Mike Long after winning 59.3% of the vote in the May primary against Idaho Freedom PAC-endorsed Brenda Bourn.

Bernt, who owns a flooring business, is seeking his second two-year term. He served on the Meridian City Council from 2017 to 2022.

Challenger Mike Long won the May primary unopposed as a Libertarian. Long works in industrial maintenance and has not previously held any elected office. His campaign tag reads, “A Senator that wants to leave you alone?!” according to his campaign website.

A routine Idaho Statesman background check found that Bernt was charged with a misdemeanor for battery in 2006. He completed 18 days on an inmate-labor detail as an alternative to jail, plus community service and anger management, after which the judge dismissed the case.

The charge was for hitting a man with a three-iron golf club. Bernt told the Statesman he was home when he responded to a knock at his front door from a man who had come to see Bernt’s then-wife.

Bernt said he regrets how he handled the situation in hindsight, but felt he was protecting his family from someone who was trying to “rip his family apart.” Bernt said he “has commented on it several times” and that it is “not a secret” to his constituents. He said he has had no incidents before or since.

House A: Petzke vs. Hess

Running for House Representative Seat A are incumbent Republican James Petzke and Democrat Catherine “Casey” Hess.

Thirty-year-old Petzke seeks reelection, while Hess has held no previous elected office.

Petzke won the May primary with 55.1% of the vote against two challengers, Adam Nelson and Monica McKinley. Hess was uncontested in the primary and received 991 votes.

Petzke is the cofounder of Upland Optics, a sporting goods company for hunters. Hess owns As You Wish Clothiers, a clothing alterations service.

House B: Ehlers vs. McKinstry vs. Weston

House Seat B has three contenders: Republican Jeff Ehlers, Democrat Becky R. McKinstry and Daniel S. Weston of the Constitutional Party. Each ran unopposed in the May primary.

Ehlers,owner of Elevate Ecommerce, seeks a second term. McKinstry works in media sales for the Idaho Press and has served as a Democratic precinct captain for District 21 since 2022, an elected role.

Weston, an engine boss and truck driver, has run in each House election since 2012 but in District 21 only since 2022.

For this Voter Guide, the Statesman sent surveys to candidates for their thoughts on what their district needs most and how they plan to collaborate with other legislators. The candidates’ responses are presented below, unedited except to shorten when a candidate exceeded a 100-word limit per answer.

Scroll horizontally or use the horizontal slider bar below the chart to view each candidate’s responses. You also can click on the chart and drag horizontally.

Learn more about these races and other local elections at IdahoStatesman.com/Election. Find more Treasure Valley candidate Q&As like this in the Statesman’s Voter Guide.

This story was originally published October 5, 2024 at 4:00 AM.

Rose Evans

Idaho Statesman

208-863-0443

Rose covers Meridian, Eagle, Kuna and Star for the Idaho Statesman. She grew up in Massachusetts and previously interned for a local newspaper in Vermont before taking a winding path here. If you like reading stories like hers, please consider supporting her work with a digital subscription. Support my work with a digital subscription