Endorsement: Scott Syme seeks return to Idaho Legislature against political newcomer | Opinion
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May 2024 primary endorsements
Check here for the Idaho Statesman Editorial Board’s picks in the May 2024 primary election.
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Scott Syme is a reasonable Republican, an Idaho native, an Army veteran, and a tried and tested state legislator with three terms of experience in the Idaho House of Representatives.
We don’t know much about his opponent, Brandon Shippy, in the upcoming Republican primary for the Idaho Senate seat in District 9, but we’ve seen his social media accounts enough to get the idea.
Shippy has posted on social media that when a woman takes her husband’s name, she is “claiming to be under his authority,” and that there should be no abortion exceptions for rape.
We don’t need another extremist in the Idaho Legislature. We’re full.
Shippy declined an invitation to interview with the Idaho Statesman editorial board.
The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorses Scott Syme in the Republican primary for Idaho Senate in District 9.
As a senator, Syme said he wants to work on constituent services, help senior citizens who are being taxed out of their homes, preserve disappearing farm ground in Idaho and ensure police have the proper funding.
When asked about his greatest accomplishment as a legislator, he gave an interesting answer. He said he was most proud of making sure the lowest-paid state employees received larger raises than nominal cost-of-living percentage raises.
He opposes schemes to provide tax credits or vouchers for private schools, saying such efforts would hurt Idaho’s smaller, rural schools.
He supports the Idaho Launch scholarship program and, when he was on the Idaho Workforce Development Council, he was an early proponent of guardrails to ensure such scholarships went to students seeking careers for in-demand jobs.
He also supports the $2 billion school facilities bill that passed this year but acknowledged it doesn’t do enough to help small, rural school districts.
Syme said he likely would have reluctantly supported the library book ban and bounty bill that passed this session “just to put it to bed,” because it was watered down enough, and he feared a more draconian bill would be introduced later. He noted he voted against an earlier iteration of the bill that was more restrictive and punitive.
In general, he said he supports local control, pointing out that he voted against a bill that would have required cities to get permission from the Legislature if they wanted to change a street name or get rid of a monument.
Although Syme, as a legislator, voted in favor of Idaho’s restrictive abortion ban, he said he recognizes that the Legislature needs to provide more clarity in the law for exceptions when the health of the mother is in danger.
Syme is the more reasonable choice for voters in District 9.
This story was originally published May 14, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we write endorsements
Who decides the endorsements?
Members of Idaho Statesman editorial board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is composed of journalists and community members. Members of the Statesman editorial board are: Statesman editor Chadd Cripe, opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, assistant editor Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Statesman editorial board meets with political candidates and asks them a series of questions about policy issues. The editorial board discusses the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. The editorial board generally will not endorse a candidate who does not agree to an interview with the board members.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well-prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats. We make recommendations about who the best-qualified candidates for these jobs are.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of the Statesman’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
Do I have to vote for the candidate the Statesman endorses?
Of course not. An endorsement is just our recommendation based on the candidates’ backgrounds and their answers to editorial board questions.
Can I disagree with the Statesman’s endorsement?
Of course you can. We encourage voters to do their own research and choose the candidate who best represents your views.
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