Christy Perry sets her sights on Congress

Second Amendment rights are always a concern for Idaho voters, but nobody has reason to question where Christy Perry stands on the issue.

Perry, a four-term state representative from Nampa, is the co-owner of Buckhorn Gun and Pawn. She was in Lewiston this past weekend, haggling with customers at the Lewiston Gun Show.

In between sales, the 49-year-old Republican talked about her philosophy of government and why she's decided to set aside her successful legislative career to run for Congress.

"I think how people feel about their government relates to how much they trust their government," said Perry, who announced her candidacy for the 1st Congressional District earlier this month. "And people are extremely frustrated (with the federal government) right now. They want a candidate who will stand up for them, someone who understands their issues and who will fight for them. They want someone with backbone who will work for them - and I think I've proven I'll do that."

Perry is one of six Republicans in the 1st District race, which will be an open seat next year because incumbent Rep. Raul Labrador is running for governor.

Her interest in politics was sparked in high school, when she attended a Girls State summer leadership program. She was fascinated by the political process, and charmed by the idea that individuals could make a difference.

"I decided that was where I wanted to be," she said.

Life intervened, though, so it took her awhile to get there. After getting married and raising a family, she also took time to "update" her education and go to college before running for office.

"I wasn't a traditional student," Perry said with a smile. "I was the first person in my family to earn a degree, and I was 40 years old when I graduated."

After earning an undergraduate degree in political science, Perry went on to earn a master's degree in public administration. Both degrees are from Boise State University.

Armed with her new degrees, she first ran for the Idaho House in 2010 and has been re-elected three times since. She previously led the House Ways and Means Committee and currently heads the House Local Government Committee.

During her time in the Legislature, Perry has earned a reputation for focusing on major issues. The past few years, for example, she has worked on improving Idaho's foster care system, pushing for a 2016 committee hearing that took complaints from people across the state, and she serves as co-chairwoman of the interim committee that was subsequently formed to look at needed reforms.

Similarly, she's been a strong proponent for modernizing Idaho's public defense system. She served on and later co-led an interim committee that spent three years looking at reforms, and subsequently sponsored legislation that provided state funding to help counties offer adequate public defense services.

In 2016, Perry - together with Genesee Rep. Caroline Troy and Rep. Kelley Packer, R-McCammon - took the politically risky step of criticizing the Legislature for failing to do enough to address Idaho's Medicaid gap population.

"I do not believe Idaho's current system of delivery of medical services, including Medicaid, the (indigent care) fund, state premium assistance, etc., is effective, efficient or sustainable," she noted at the time, in the letter to the House Health and Welfare Committee. "I am supportive of Medicaid reform, toward the goal of a managed Medicaid program."

In Lewiston on Saturday, Perry said she supports federal block grants, which would give states more flexibility in how to structure their Medicaid systems. She also favors repealing the Affordable Care Act, so long as states are given explicit authority over health care policy.

"Don't repeal it and leave a vacuum," she said.

States' rights are one of the primary issues Perry wants to focus on in Congress. She sees it as a critical step in strengthening the nation. She also hopes to focus on natural resource issues.

"I try to focus on issues that make the state better and that have an impact on people's lives," she said. "That's where I've spent my time in the Legislature. People want to know you're going to fight for them, and that's what I've done."

The 2018 Republican primary takes place May 15. Other Republicans in the 1st Congressional District race include former state Sen. Russ Fulcher, former Lt. Gov. David Leroy, Rep. Luke Malek of Coeur d'Alene, Michael Snyder of Bonners Ferry and Nicholas Henderson of Post Falls.

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Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.