The bi-racial son of people dealing with addiction, I was born with what one might consider a deficit of hope. Fortunately, I always had love and support in my life.

I graduated high school with low grades, few real skills, and little direction.

I wanted to serve my country, so I sought real opportunity and personal growth by enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1996. In the military, I learned discipline, maintaining mission readiness, and how to work as a team to accomplish difficult tasks. During my enlistment I conducted search and rescue and law enforcement operations and, later, shipboard communications aboard the USCGC Polar Star.

Watching how the military takes care of its people and their family’s basic needs profoundly impacted me. Consequently, I believe that if we were a little more dutiful at ensuring Idahoans had real access to some basics then we would increase our state’s productivity, our individual freedoms and our overall well-being.

In addition to my benefiting from military programs, I’ve benefited from non-military government programs like Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and TRiO; I know well-designed social programs are a lifeline to those in need, and a critical springboard for future success.

Upon becoming a military veteran, the GI Bill brought me to Boise State where I thrived while studying criminal justice. I became the University’s first TRiO McNair Scholar and interned at the Idaho Supreme Court where I supported the launch of Idaho’s early problem-solving drug courts. I even co-authored an Idaho Law Review article examining the 4th Amendment’s “knock and announce” rule. I was elected student body president and, in 2003, our Governor issued me a commendation for distinguished public service.

Improving our resiliency and ability to manage incidents is important to me. So after earning my law degree and serving as a U.S. Senate law clerk and university lecturer, I built on my Coast Guard experience and earned a PhD in Law and Public Policy. My dissertation examined Idaho’s efforts to implement the National Incident Management System, a key post-911 development in how to handle major incidents in the U.S. I’ve written an overview of the incident management lessons Idaho learned as a result of and subsequent to our last deadly earthquake in October 1983.

A decade ago, my career permanently moved into the education field. This includes three years as the Chief Academic Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education and another three years helping build and maintain the Idaho Standards Achievement system. Today, I own and run a K-16+ education consultancy.

My commitment to emergency preparedness and education is really a commitment to improving Idaho’s business climate. Private sector jobs are an essential component of thriving communities. Historically, we’ve looked narrowly at tax and regulatory cuts as the only means of nurturing our business climate. Today, however, our business-climate needs are more diverse and more pressing. Our businesses and their employees need affordable child care and housing. Our farms need dependable, clean water sources. We all need roads, bridges, internet, etc - that allow people, information, and goods to move within and out of Idaho safely and efficiently. 

Today, I live with my wife and children in Boise. We’re wholly committed to creating a better world today — in small ways albeit.

My life experiences and the support of my amazing family, coupled with my unique background and passion for law and state government, drive my legislative service. I am humbled, dedicated, and passionate about serving the people of District 19 and beyond.

- Chris