Lewiston City Council Candidates

Brandon Huffaker

I am the third generation in my family to live here in Lewiston. My grandparents moved here with their family almost 50 years ago that started out as a relocation for work. My parents live here and run their own business. Now I live here with my wife and family. My children are learning to love what this city and area have to offer, but the current trajectory will leave nothing for their kids and maybe even them. 

Lewiston is behind the curve. We need to correct the course and get back on track to a path that will provide a future for children and families who live here. If Lewiston is to become more prosperous, we must adapt to the post-Covid 19 era that we are now entering. There is no going back, there is no trying to keep things the same, there is only the forward and onward into this new future.

Think to yourself, where do you see yourself and the city of Lewiston in 20 years. If you see Lewiston exactly the same as it is right now, then we have a problem. We need to work smarter, not harder, in developing a city for what is already coming.

Issues

Business Growth

The city needs to seriously re-evaluate the approach that is being taken to welcoming new businesses. In the past 10 years, we have seen more businesses leave than come to Lewiston. The brick and mortar stores of the past century are quickly becoming obsolete unless they have national or worldwide support, such as Walmart or Target. Businesses like Amazon and other online shopping centers will be the future. We must look to the future for the direction to go. We need to ensure that online stores can have a place to do business here. Whether that means making property available for warehouses and storage, lots available for fleet and delivery vehicles, or developing better roadways for those businesses to deliver their goods. Gone is the time of hoping that Lewiston will return to "the good ol' days". We must still support the in-person experience where possible and support local businesses without losing sight of where the world is going for consumerism.

Protect Small Businesses

Small businesses are a core piece of Lewiston. Usually they offer a professional service that a large business is unable to provide. These professional services are essential to the development of new homes, providing recreation, and even medical services. If a small business is unable to compete with a larger one, then it deprives us of our ability to choose. The freedom to choose where to shop and who will provide you with these professional services are a necessity to a great community, and Lewiston needs this.

Population Growth

Looking at Lewiston’s population growth over the past 3 decades shows that the size of Lewiston has almost reached a plateau. It now takes about 8 years to increase the population by 1000 people whereas it used to take less than half that time.

Our city does not have the right incentives in place to draw more people to Lewiston. Other cities across the United States are offering incentives to move there, including reduced property taxes and payments. If we want to draw people to Lewiston we need to give them a better reason to come and then stay. As more people come, that means more businesses, which then turns into a more prosperous city.

Historic Preservation

Our city has a rich history and culture. Taking a walk or drive down Main Street can be an enjoyable experience. With time, however, comes the dilapidation of our history unless we work to care for and preserve it. If we truly want people to come and experience Idaho’s first capital, then we should show them well-preserved buildings and maintained public spaces. Locations that have fallen into disrepair do a disservice to our community and damage our reputation. Taking care of our city’s heritage brings life to Lewiston.

Infrastructure

When planning for the future, it’s easier to start early. We can already see some of the future right now. By 2040 electric cars are expected to control the automobile market. We need to start plans and make changes now for what is to come with our roads. We cannot rely on the conventional means and funding that brought us to today for street maintenance. The gas tax that has been used to help support road maintenance will run dry.

Ingenuity and invention is in American blood which means that newer and better things will be coming. The smart investor starts early so that they are ready for 10, 20, and 30 years down the road. If we don’t start now, then we risk higher taxes and substandard infrastructure.

Public Awareness

I love seeing my children go to school and learning new things. Education, though, does not stop with a high school diploma or GED. With modern technology we are able to learn new things, but with that comes misinformation. We need to stop the spreading of lies and promote the truth. A well educated public bolsters a city’s ability to grow and develop; furthermore it creates a sense of comradery and community. If we’re too concerned about fighting the next falsehood and arguing with each other, then we may miss the opportunities to make Lewiston better.

Biography

Name:

Brandon Huffaker

Age:

32

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from BYU-Idaho (2015) with a Minor in Economics

Work experience:

I am currently with Sunrun, Inc as a Supervisor over Filings. I was previously with Vivint Solar (2017) in their Risk Management department until they were acquired by Sunrun in 2020. Prior to Vivint Solar I worked at Big Lots (2015-2018) as a Manager.

Political experience:

No previous elected service. I worked in Senator Mike Crapo’s Washington D.C. Office in 2014. In my current role with Sunrun I work with government offices across the country at different levels - city, county and state.

How long lived in area:

25 years as a resident.

Family:

Married for 9 years (2012) with 5 kids ages 7, 6, 4, 2, and 1.

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