Summary

In April, 2015, Better Idaho created a model to illustrate the political power of each
member of the Idaho Joint Appropriations and Finance Committee and, therefore, the
constituents residing in their home-counties. For the sake of this model, political power
is defined as the ability to influence legislation. The information below details the
methods utilized during the calculation process.
Methodology
Within this model, levels of political power were categorized on a 1-2 scale, based on
each legislators assignment as either a JFAC Co-Chair or JFAC Member. Numeric
values of the scale reflect the standard low-high values of each number. The following
point system was implemented:
Leadership Position
Co-Chair
Member

Point Value
2
1

Points were assigned to legislators in reflection of JFAC-related position currently held.

Lastly, points were totaled based on the counties from which each individual resides
and visually inserted on a map of Idaho that has been divided at the county level.

Appendix A: JFAC Co-Chairs and Members

Name

Party

Position

County

Points

Jason Monks

Member

Ada

Phylis King

Member

Ada

John Gannon

Member

Ada

Jim Guthrie

Member

Bannock

Roy Lacey

Member

Bannock

Steve Bair

Member

Bingham

Shawn Keough

Member

Bonner

Dean Mortimer

Member

Bonneville

Wendy Horman

Member

Bonneville

Steven Miller

Member

Camas

Rick Youngblood

Member

Canyon

Marc Gibbs

Member

Caribou

Steven Thayn

Member

Gem

Sheryl Nuxoll

Member

Idaho

Van Burtenshaw

Member

Jefferson

Maxine Bell

Co-Chair

Jerome

Luke Malek

Member

Kootenai

Dan Schmidt

Member

Latah

Dean Cameron

Co-Chair

Minidoka

Dan Johnson

Member

Nez Perce

Appendix B: County Totals

County

Total Points

Ada

Bannock

Bonneville

Jerome

Minidoka

Bingham

Bonner

Camas

Canyon

Caribou

Gem

Idaho

Jefferson

Kootenai

Latah

Nez Perce