Representing All of Gem County
Chosen home. Proven commitment. Countywide responsibility.
Putting Roots Down
When I arrived in Gem County, I didn’t just move in, I built a life here.
My wife and I put our family roots down. We chose to raise our kids here, in a place where community still matters and people know each other by name. I built a local business from the ground up, invested my time and energy into Sweet and the surrounding communities, and committed myself to being part of this county, not just living here.
Anderson Reserve is a central part of that story.
It started as an idea and a risk, one that required navigating permits, regulations, construction, staffing, financing, and the realities every small business owner knows well. There were long days, hard decisions, and plenty of moments where quitting would’ve been easier.
But we didn’t quit.
Instead, we built something that now employs local people, supports local agriculture, brings visitors into Gem County, and contributes to the local economy. Not because it was easy, but because it was worth doing right.
That experience matters. It taught me how decisions made on paper affect real people. It taught me how important clear rules, fair processes, and consistent communication really are. And it taught me that when you build something in a community, you owe that community your best.
Why This Matters to Me Now
I want my kids to grow up here.
I want them to inherit a Gem County that’s strong, fair, and well-run. A place where opportunity exists because leadership planned ahead. Where growth is managed responsibly, not reactively. Where people don’t need connections or insider knowledge to navigate county government.
I’m not tucked away behind a desk. I’m in the community; working, serving, listening and communicating every day.
That’s not a campaign promise. That’s how I already live.
Gem County became home because I committed to it. I’ve invested here, built here, and am raising my family here. And I don’t take that lightly.
That’s why I care so deeply about how this county is led, and why I’m willing to step up to help protect what makes it special, while planning responsibly for the future.
Why I Chose Gem County
I moved to Gem County from a small farming town in Colorado nearly ten years ago.
Not by accident, but by choice.
But the truth is, Idaho wasn’t unfamiliar to me.
Durning the great American land settlement, my family staked an 80-acre claim in northern Idaho, just outside Coeur d’Alene. That land is still in our family today, passed down, cared for, and, I hope, preserved for generations to come.
Growing up, I heard stories about that place: how it was claimed, what it represented, and the responsibility that came with owning land and being part of a community. Stories of hard work, independence, and accountability. Idaho always felt a little mythical to me as a kid, a place where people built something real and stood behind it.
When I had the chance, I came here as soon as I could.
What I’ll Do Differently
As county commissioner, my responsibility won’t end with a vote. I believe representing the whole county means being accessible to residents across every district, applying one consistent standard to every decision, and clearly explaining how and why decisions are made. To rebuild trust, I support stronger communication, including a regular Commissioner’s Corner that plainly outlines the issues being worked on, the information considered, and the reasoning behind every county decisions.
Talk to Paul
Wherever you live in Gem County, I want to hear from you.