Republican incumbent Mike Veile and Democratic candidate Walter Boyd outlined differing priorities for Idaho’s District 35 House Seat A, with both placing education and water issues among their principal concerns.

Veile listed education, access to Idaho public lands and resources, and support for rural infrastructure and industries as his leading issues. He said Idaho should revise its school funding formula to more closely account for the actual costs of providing education.

On natural resources, Veile supports maintaining public access to Idaho lands. He also backs investments in water storage, aquifer recharge and related infrastructure, while opposing unfunded requirements imposed on local governments.

Boyd’s Priorities

Boyd identified public education, durable water security and preparation for artificial intelligence as his three major policy areas. He said rural healthcare is also a concern, citing the financial difficulties facing Teton Valley Health Care.

Boyd supports additional state spending for aquifer recharge, irrigation systems, water monitoring and verified savings. He also favors stronger support for teachers, school facilities and modern classroom instruction, while maintaining parental choice.

“One legislator cannot fix everything,” Boyd said.

Local Control and Technology

Boyd said local governments should retain authority over zoning, infrastructure and local funding decisions. He supports eliminating Idaho’s grocery sales tax and the associated credit, and he said developers should bear documented, proportionate costs tied to needed infrastructure.

Boyd, who cited four decades of work with complex technology systems, supports practical training for educators and assessment of AI literacy. Senate Bill 1227 established an Idaho K-12 artificial intelligence framework.

Boyd named Teton, Caribou and Bear Lake counties, along with Driggs, Montpelier, Soda Springs and Ammon, in discussing communities within the district’s concerns.