CANDIDATE PROFILE – Jack Rupp, Shoshone County Commissioner, District 3 (D)

- Full name and age

Jack Rupp, 71

- Level of education

Graduated from Garden City Kansas Senior High 

Served 4-year apprenticeship Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 363

 80 hr. Hazmat Card from Laborers Local 238.

- Background and/or relevant experience for the position you are running for

1991 we bought Fonks variety store in Wallace ld. as it was closing their doors. We sold Fonks five years later as a thriving business. Was vice president of High Mountain ATV during the time we were working on travel plans for our local national forests. Worked with Forest Service, BLM, and other agencies. I represented 400 atv'ers at a committee hearing in Boise. Was asked to run for treasurer for a bankrupt hospital board. Being only the second taxing district to ever declare bankruptcy, we had to go through a lot of uncharted water to get the problem solved. While most people never realize with their taxes, you have not paid taxes for Shoshone Hospital for a few years. We floated a 20-year bond which was paid off five years early.

- Family

Wife, Carolyn, 53 years; Three adult daughters, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. 

- Main priority if you are elected?

I know there are always going to be budget issues. I would like to tell you I have the answers but in reality, I have never been a county commissioner. I also had never owned a bankrupt dime store but bought one and turned it around. I knew nothing about a hospital board let alone the treasurer of a bankrupt hospital board. I do not have all the answers but there is one thing I do know is when I signed up to run for commissioner I thought it was a 32-hour-a-week job. I have been told it is now 24 hours a week. If there is one thing I will say I can do and will do is work 32 hours a week. As with all my previous experiences, willingness to take on hard projects and put in the time and hard work will achieve results.

- Notable/ relevant achievements you have earned or received

I feel as if my previous achievements and accomplishments are all listed above. Not all achievements and accomplishments are recognized with a reward of any kind. You do it for the satisfaction of a job done right.

- Key issues associated with the position

Budgets will always be a key issue.