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Lori McCann

State Representative Legislative District 6 Seat A

Biography and Background

I have a very diverse background, including careers in education, business, and agriculture.
I have lived in District 6, for over 50 years, being a graduate of Lewiston High School and of the University of Idaho with a B.S. in Education, along with working on a master’s degree. I am a wife, mother, and grandmother of 11, who has served as program coordinator and professor in the Paralegal and Legal Assisting programs at Lewis Clark State College for over 15 years. For the past 45+ years, I have worked alongside my husband to manage his law practice, our family corporation (consisting of a cattle ranch, timber, and commercial real estate development), and our personal partnership in residential and commercial rentals. I am a past member of the Tammany School Board, a past president of the Idaho Association for Legal Professionals, past president of the LCSC Foundation Board, a Board Member of the Idaho Community Foundation, a non-profit board, a Board and Exec. Board Member of (IBE) the Idaho Business for Education organization, serve on the University of Idaho Extension Office Advisory Board, have served as secretary and current precinct captain of precinct 19, of the NPC Republican Central Committee, and have served in the Idaho House of Representatives serving District 6, since my appointment in 2021.

Having various experiences in the teaching field, running several small businesses, including a working cattle ranch, and currently serving as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, make me uniquely qualified for this office.

Top 3 Issues

Issue 1

Property Tax Relief: I have been a vocal proponent of raising the Homeowner’s Exemption to reduce the taxable value of one’s home. I realize this creates a “tax shift,” to commercial and agriculture property. However, the value of an Idaho home has grown significantly faster than that of the other two classifications of property and has created an imbalance in this 3-legged stool and should be updated to equalize the differences. The Legislature has worked to find other ways to lower the property taxes on our homeowners by creating a stream of funding that lowers our school bonds and levies, thus creating less of a burden on our homeowners. In addition, the County Public Defender’s contracts will be moved from the County level to the State. I will continue to seek solutions to lower property taxes on our homeowners.

Issue 2

Education: Since my appointment in 2021, I have been a “Champion” for Educational Opportunities for our kids from K-12 through higher education. I have also been a loud proponent that it is the State’s responsibility to provide a safe environment for our children to learn. We have nearly $1 billion dollars in maintenance of our school buildings that we have failed to address for decades. I will continue to work with my colleagues to find answers to help our school districts fix their buildings, or to help them fund a new school through other means, than on the backs of our homeowners. We have a good start in the funding we appropriated in 2024, through HB521, but this is JUST A START! We must do more to properly address this issue. Education is the backbone for a successful community and state! I will continue to be a champion for Education.

Issue 3

Agriculture: Our state has a long and steep history rooted in agriculture. We have over 25,000 farms and ranches that produce close to 200 different commodities. I will strive to continue my work to enhance every aspect of agriculture by supporting policy that encourages growth and helps our ag businesses thrive. I will continue the work that was done this last Legislative session to encourage large animal vets to return to Idaho to live, work, and to raise their families. Idaho’s agriculture remains one of the most important aspects of our State’s economy and we all need to work together to keep our ag businesses alive.

Integrity in Affiliation

Submission: Yes
“I have read the Idaho Constitution and the Idaho Republican Party Platform. Except for the provisions specifically noted below, I support the Idaho Republican Party Platform and accept it as the standard by which my performance as a candidate and as an officeholder should be evaluated. I certify that I am not a candidate, officer, delegate or position holder in any party other than the Republican Party.”
I strongly support the Idaho State Constitution, the U.S. Constitution and the Preamble of the Idaho Republican Party platform in total. I am committed to conservative values and to our Idaho way of life. I believe in:

limited government
taxes that are reasonable to pay for the needs of services demanded by our citizens
family values and that parents, not the State, have a sacred duty and legal right to raise their children how they see fit. The GOP platform is inconsistent here and seems to pick and choose when this fits
defending our 2nd amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution
fiscal responsibility but recognize that the legislature MUST pass a balanced budget every year. Just voting no on every budget does NOT make one a fiscally responsible legislator
I believe in prolife but with exemptions that currently exist in the law regarding rape, and incest, and for the health and the life of the mother
Individual freedoms
Local control
While I support the majority of the platform of the Idaho Republican Party, I disagree with the following provisions:
Article 1: Section 3C – I do not support repealing the 17th Amendment. I believe Idahoans should have the right to elect their U.S. Senators.

Article 1: Section 4A: I do not support Idaho’s return to the Gold & Silver standard. This is impractical, and very expensive.

Article 1: Section 5D: This is impractical. If we stop all federal funds from coming into the state, we would have to raise taxes substantially to pick up the slack of required programs, particularly with Medicaid expansion voted on by Idahoans. Federal dollars are also the dollars of Idahoans and we should be able to utilize such for the benefit of Idahoans.

Article III, Section 3: I disagree that public tax dollars mandated by the Idaho Constitution should be diverted to pay for private schools. Sending public tax dollars to private schools is not fiscally responsible, particularly with NO OVERSIGHT OR ACCOUNTABILITY.

Section 12: The State Board members are selected to represent all regions of our State.

Article XIV: I am a proud prolife woman, but I believe that we need the exemptions that currently exist in the law regarding rape, and incest, and need to include for the health and the life of the mother.







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