Heather Scott
Heather Scott | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theIdaho House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2014 Serving withDale Hawkins | |
| Preceded by | Eric Anderson |
| Constituency | 1st districtSeat A (2014–2022) 2nd districtSeat A (2022–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ohio,U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Andrew |
| Residence(s) | Blanchard, Idaho,U.S. |
| Education | University of Akron(BS) |
| Website | Official website |
Heather Scottis an American biologist, businesswoman, and politician serving as aRepublicanmember of theIdaho House of Representativesfrom the 1st district. She has been a member of the Idaho House since 2014. She is part of thefar-rightfaction of theIdaho Republican Party.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Born inOhio,Scott earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from theUniversity of Akron.[5]
Career
[edit]She was employed in the field of fisheries and aquatic biology for over 15 years related to theFederal Energy Regulatory Commissionre-licensing and operations ofhydroelectricfacilities.[5]
Idaho House of Representatives
[edit]In 2015 Scott is reported to have cut wires which were part of the fire-suppression system in her office. Scott believed at the time that the wires were in fact listening devices planted to spy on her. The wire-cutting incident was witnessed by other Idaho House members.[6]
In August 2017, Scott defendedwhite nationalismon herFacebookpage, writing: "The way the media has set this up, the mention of white nationalist, which is no more than a Caucasian who (sic) for the Constitution and making America great again, and confusing it with term, 'white supremacist' which is extreme racism. Therefore, if one is 'guilty' of being white, one is clearly racist."[7][8]
At the start of the 2017 legislative session, Scott reportedly made a remark to fellow state representativeJudy Boyle,upon learning of her appointment to the state legislature's agriculture committee. The reported comment was that female lawmakers obtain ranking committee appointments and other leadership positions only if they "spread their legs." The alleged comment received widespread rebuke from other state lawmakers.[9]
In the 2019 legislative session, Scott sponsored a bill that would have required Idaho'sChild Protective Servicestomirandizeparents before assessing them or their children. After passing the House, the bill was held in committee in the Senate.[10]
In 2019, it was reported that Scott was a member of the Coalition of Western States (COWS), a group founded by Washington state representativeMatt Sheathat has been accused of involvement in domestic terrorism.[11]
In April 2020, she dismissed the severity of theCOVID-19 pandemic,claiming the virus was trying to kill theU.S. Constitution[12]and "The lying, Trump-hating media who continues to push global and socialist agendas has told us that there is an emergency."[1]
In an April 2021 debate on the House floor, Scott claimed the bookTo Kill a Mockingbirdwas an example ofcritical race theoryin schools.[13]
In 2021, Scott sought a copy of the police report accusing fellow state republicanAaron von Ehlingerof rape and asked the victim's legal representative how a person who files a false police report alleging sexual assault could be charged with a crime.[14]
Scott spoke against a bill in 2023 that would have providedtamponsandpadsin girls' public school bathrooms in middle and high school, calling it a "very liberal policy" and asking "Why are our schools obsessed with the private parts of our children?" The bill failed.[15]
Elections
[edit]In 2020, Scott ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[16]She defeated Gail Bolin in the general election with 68.0 percent of the vote.[17]
In 2018, Scott defeated Mike Boeck in the Republican primary.[18]She supported CongressmanRaul Labradorfor governor in the May 2018 Republican primary.[19]
In 2016, Scott ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[20]She defeated Kate McAlister with 62.54% of the vote.[21]She supportedTed Cruzin theRepublican Party presidential primaries, 2016.[22][23]
In 2014, Scott defeated Stephen T. Snedden in the Republican primary, winning with 63.8% of the vote.[24]She defeated Laura Bry in the general election with 66.1% of the vote.[25]
In 2024, Scott is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Democrat Loree Peery is running against Scott in the general election. Peery decided to run after Scott introduced a bill expanding an anti-cannibalism law in response to a prank video.[26]
References
[edit]- ^abSiegler, Kirk(April 13, 2020)."In Idaho, Far-Right Republicans Defy Coronavirus Health Restrictions".NPR.RetrievedJanuary 23,2021.
- ^Walters, Daniel (May 16, 2022)."They're with her: Janice McGeachin and the rise of women on the Idaho far-right".Inlander.RetrievedNovember 24,2022.
- ^Dawson, James (October 24, 2022)."Should Idaho lawmakers have a say over special sessions?".Boise State Public Radio.RetrievedNovember 24,2022.
- ^Moseley-Morris, Kelcie (April 6, 2022)."Idaho House candidates pull in $1.2 million in fundraising".Idaho Capital Sun.RetrievedNovember 24,2022.
- ^ab"Rep. Heather Scott".Idaho State Legislature.RetrievedApril 5,2017.
- ^Russell, Betsy Z. (January 17, 2017)."Two lawmakers say they saw Rep. Scott remove what she feared was a listening device".Idaho Statesman.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^Russell, Betsy Z. (August 16, 2017)."North Idaho Rep. Heather Scott defends white nationalists in Facebook post".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedApril 21,2020.
- ^Malone, Mary (August 23, 2017)."Heather Scott defends statements on white nationalism".Coeur d'Alene Press.Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2018.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^Dentzer, Bill (January 11, 2017)."Idaho lawmaker under fire for saying female colleagues advance via sexual favors".Idaho Statesman.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^Brown, Nathan (March 18, 2019)."Senate committee holds Scott's CPS notification bill".Idaho Press.RetrievedMarch 19,2019.
- ^Camden, Jim; Sokol, Chad (December 19, 2019)."Rep. Matt Shea expelled from GOP caucus after investigation finds he engaged in domestic terrorism".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedJanuary 23,2021.
- ^Nichols, Dave (April 3, 2020)."North Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott pushes back against Gov. Little's stay-at-home order".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedJanuary 23,2021.
- ^Holmes, Brian (April 22, 2021)."Idaho lawmaker cites 'To Kill A Mockingbird' as proof of critical race theory in schools".KTVB.RetrievedJuly 8,2021.
- ^Boone, Rebecca (May 4, 2021)."Idaho intern reported rape, faced 'overwhelming' harassment".AP NEWS.Associated Press.RetrievedMay 4,2021.
- ^Robertson, Nick (March 24, 2023)."Idaho Republicans block 'woke' free tampons in schools proposal".The Hill.
- ^"Heather Scott (Idaho)".Ballotpedia.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
- ^"Idaho State House - Position 1A Election Results".USA Today.November 3, 2020.RetrievedJune 3,2022.
- ^Russell, Betsy Z. (May 5, 2017)."North Idaho Rep. Heather Scott draws GOP challenger for next election".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^Malloy, Chuck (August 20, 2017)."Labrador offers the best hope to the GOP 'right'".Idaho State Journal.RetrievedNovember 21,2019.
- ^"Legislative Totals".www.sos.idaho.gov.RetrievedApril 5,2017.
- ^"Legislative Totals".www.sos.idaho.gov.RetrievedApril 5,2017.
- ^"Ted Cruz: Press Release - Cruz for President Announces Expanded Idaho Leadership Team".www.presidency.ucsb.edu.Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2017.RetrievedApril 5,2017.
- ^Davlin, Melissa; Ogilvie, Seth (March 8, 2016)."Two rallies, two different messages, two reporters' thoughts".Idaho Reports.Idaho Public Television.RetrievedApril 1,2023.
- ^"Legislative Totals".www.sos.idaho.gov.Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2018.RetrievedApril 5,2017.
- ^"Legislative Totals".www.sos.idaho.gov.Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2016.RetrievedApril 5,2017.
- ^Crampton, Liz (April 17, 2024)."Combatting cannibalism and jailing librarians: Idaho Democrats see opportunity in extreme GOP agenda".RetrievedApril 17,2024.