Why I’m Running
Hey! I’m Jonathan.
I’m an award-winning higher education leader who has built a successful career advocating for others through public policies, programs, and services. My wife and I chose to raise our family in Boise, and I want to do everything I can to build a sustainable future for my daughter, our friends, and others in our local community.
Ada County's fast-growing communities face significant challenges and opportunities. Yet, we are positioned to avoid the mistakes of other metro areas by electing leaders who know how to manage change, practice empathy, and analyze data. I enter this race with a proven track record of bringing people together around common goals, managing large-scale improvements at public institutions, and stretching taxpayer dollars to create lasting value.
We deserve MORE from our elected leaders. I have served Idaho’s education community with integrity and curiosity, and I will do the same by representing the interests of Ada County’s citizens. We must move Ada County forward together.
My Values as a Public Servant
I believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. Throughout my childhood, my family navigated professional and financial uncertainty from town to city and state to state across the United States. Hard work was never enough for us to secure our own sense of social dignity and financial stability. Good public policies, a reliable social safety net, and the kindness of others were vital for me to break intergenerational barriers and lead a healthy, productive life.
My experience being raised by and among the working poor showed me the importance of recognizing systems, building collaborative relationships with others, and increasing everyone's access to opportunities. My success as a public education leader has resulted from the relationships I’ve built, the trust I’ve earned, and my passion for exploring what I don’t yet know.
Learning from and advocating for the people of Ada County has been my favorite part of this campaign. Because maintaining curiosity is my ethical obligation as an educator and your next commissioner, please contact me directly or visit with me at events if you have experience to share.
Relevant Accomplishments
Recognized as one of Idaho’s “Accomplished Under 40” by the Idaho Business Review, 2024
Served on the Idaho Democratic Party’s Resolution Committee and provided subject matter expertise on public education, library access, climate change, social programs, and public health
Over a decade of experience in public administration securing state and federal funding, managing multi-million dollar budgets, and educating policymakers on local issues
Became a “Guardian of the Fort” by helping keep the Treefort Music Festival independent during the COVID-19 pandemic
Helped drive a 167% increase over the last four years in fully online degree/certificate programs offered by Idaho’s public colleges and universities via the investments and initiatives I managed as a state-level administrator
Saved Idaho students millions of dollars and counting under education initiatives I designed and managed to raise access, lower cost, and improve the value of required course materials
Enabled “systemness” between Idaho Colleges and Universities by collaboratively implementing commonality between academic operations, technology infrastructure, institutional policies, and vendor contracts
Regularly consulted as an international leader in open, online, and general education program administration thanks, in part, to my work with the Idaho education community
Decades of experience training and supervising professionals across industries, including education, dining, construction, and creative design
Over 15 years spent living, studying, and working in Idaho between Sandpoint, Moscow, and Boise
