State Senator Carl Bjerke is a retired Deputy Chief of Operations from the Santa Monica Fire Department. Throughout his 32-year career in public safety, he worked in almost every aspect of the department: Firefighter, Paramedic, Acting Engineer, Captain, Paramedic Coordinator, Training Captain, Division Chief, Battalion Chief, Training Chief, and eventually retiring in 2017, as the Deputy Chief of Operations.

Family values and deep faith in God have guided Carl’s life. His wife of 33 years, Lesli, is a retired teacher and current school board trustee. Their son Garrett is a firefighter for the City of Meridian. Their daughter Carli is an entrepreneur and graphic designer in Coeur d’Alene. Together, they exemplify a family deeply committed to serving their community.

In 2022, driven by his dedication to serve his community further, Carl successfully sought election to represent his neighbors as their Idaho State Senator. His long career in public safety gives him extensive experience working with various cities and counties. Carl, therefore, understands issues related to the proper and effective administration of local and state government.

His colleagues in the Senate recognized this experience, and he was appointed Vice Chair of the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee (JFAC) in his first year as a legislator. Senator Bjerke thus plays a vital role in shaping budgets and ensuring the responsible administration of government funds.

As Senator Bjerke looks ahead to the future, he has actively sought to stay informed about these key budgetary issues. Together with his colleagues, Senator Carl Bjerke is diligently strategizing on how to tackle the 2024-25 budget effectively, steadfast in his commitment to the people of
Idaho.