Post Register

“A new group in Idaho is looking to push back against some of the extreme viewpoints that have gained traction the state.

Headlined by moderate members of the business and law enforcement communities, Idaho Leaders United is a statewide coalition created to denounce violent political extremism, bigotry and discrimination.

Founding members of the Idaho Leaders United are prominent Idahoans: BVA Development CEO Tommy Ahlquist; Saint Alphonsus President and CEO Odette Bolano; retired Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney; Idaho Air National Guard retired Brig. Gen. Bill Shawver; Gross Farms CEO Doug Gross; as well as Ball Ventures CEO Cortney Liddiard and retired Bonneville County Sheriff Paul Wilde, both of Idaho Falls. 

Idaho Leaders United board members said that Idaho’s reputation as a haven for political extremism hurts in business recruitment and retention efforts.

“I can tell you as a health care executive that recruits and hopes to retain great talent for our health care systems, that we are losing incredibly talented people because of the extremist political views that we have in our state,” Bolano said. “And in our recruitment, I can tell you for a fact that we are losing people who do not want to come to Idaho that have great gifts to share with us that are refusing to come here because of the political climate.”