Election
2006
Name: Leland G. “Lee” Heinrich
Age: 62
Education: Bachelors of Science, Agricultural
Economics, University of Idaho
Family: Married to Brenda, 5 Children,
11 Grandchildren
Experience /Qualifications:
Began my career with the Farm Bureau
Elected Valley County Clerk –1990 (still
serving)
Past President, Idaho Association of County Recorders & Clerks
Past President, Idaho Association of Counties
Chairman, Cascade Rural Fire District
Board
of Trustees, Cascade Medical Center
Chaired Committee to Revise IAC Uniform Accounting
Manual
Chaired Committee to Establish Ethics Guidelines
Currently Serving on IAC Board
Currently Serving on National
Association of County Recorders & Clerks
Original organizer West Mountain Snowmobile Club
Why are you
running for state senate?
I have experience dealing with
issues that effect local governments and the local people.
I have worked for others, been self-employed, and I have
served the people. I have been the Valley County Clerk
for the past 16 years. . I am now ready and eager to take
on the challenges ahead and I want to assure you that I
will continue to work tirelessly on the issues that are
important to everyone in District 8.
What makes you the best candidate?
It is my desire to protect traditional
values, assure continued access, sustainable use of the
land and natural resources, and make myself available to
the constituents to insure that I provide their representation.
I will establish and maintain communication with the people
of Legislative District and encourage contact by telephone,
mail, email and publications. I have a 5 th wheel which
I intend to use as a mobile office and travel to each of
the four (4) counties in District 8. . I intend to hold
town hall meetings during the summer months.
I believe that Thomas Jefferson was absolutely right when
he said “When a man assumes a public trust he
should consider himself as public property.”
What are the most important issues
facing the citizens and what is your plan for addressing
accomplishing them?
- Property Taxes: Restricting the 3-legged stool for
taxes and less reliance on property tax.
- Water: It is the lifeblood of Idaho. We must keep
Idaho water in Idaho for the benefit of Idaho. Water
rights are a property right
- Property Rights: Prosperity and property rights are
inextricably linked. The importance of having well-defined
and strongly protected property rights should be
widely recognized among policymakers. Simply put property
rights is the key to economic development
Property taxes are the major funding
source for local government. Until alternative revenue
resources are allowed property tax must be relied upon.
More decision-making authority must be given to our local
elected officials.
The Constitution and statutes of the state of Idaho declare
all the waters of the state, when flowing in their natural
channels, including the waters of all natural springs and
lakes within the boundaries of the state, and ground waters
of the state, to be public waters. When a private right
to the use of public waters is established by appropriation,
a water right is established that is a real property rights
much like property rights in land. The constitution and
statutes of the state of Idaho protect private property
rights, including water rights. Consequently, Idaho water
should be managed for Idaho only within the existing water
structure.
Provide a clear definition of "property." In
providing such a statement, the first and most important
order of business is to give a clear definition of "property." In
every area of the law except the law of public takings,
as every first-year law student learns, "property" refers
not simply to the underlying estate but to all the uses
that can be made of that estate. James Madison put the
point well in his essay on property: "as a man is
said to have a right to his property, he may be equally
said to have a property in his rights."(5) Take one
of those rights--one of those sticks in the "bundle
of sticks" we call "property"--and you take
something that belongs to the owner. Under the Fifth Amendment,
compensation is due to that owner.
|
