Kent is a third generation Caldwellite.  His paternal grandmother arrived by covered wagon as a child prior to Idaho Statehood.  His paternal grandfather homesteaded just west of town sixteen years after Idaho became a State.  His maternal grandparents were born and raised in the Treasure Valley.  Kent was born and raised in Caldwell, graduated from Caldwell High School, attended the College of Idaho and Boise State University, completing his education with honors from Northwest Nazarene University with a Business Administration Major.

     Kent and his wife, Sylvia, raised three children in Caldwell, and are the grandparents of fourteen.

    Kent managed and later owned the family business, Treasure Craft, a printing business established by his parents in 1953.  He also spent time working in retail with Albertsons, holding management positions from Front-End Manager to acting Store Director, and as Operations Manager for an Ace Hardware franchisee, setting up two new stores in the valley.  He was later hired by MotivePower, a division of WABTEC (a builder of commuter locomotives) to develop and implement their training program, creating over 35 complete educational programs.

     He understands all of the challenges and joys of owning and operating a small business in an ever-changing economy, calling them "the backbone of America's economy."

     Kent's community service began at age 16 when he developed plans for a Youth-Senior Citizen Center.  He was granted land near the Caldwell Park for the center and got the donated support of several professionals to set up a corporation, design the facility and to build it.  The seniors that were working with Kent at the time felt that they should have a center of their own -- that kids already had it all with schools, ball fields, etc., so the project stalled.  A few years later, the project was revived, and, using the blueprints donated for the project, a new Senior Citizen Center was built by the city on Everett Street -- a facility that has since been expanded and is still in use today.

     Kent served on the Caldwell City Council in the mid-1980s.  His work included securing funding from the FAA for the initial expansion of the then Caldwell Industrial Airport; helping create a funding mechanism to build a new clubhouse at Purple Sage Golf Course and expand the facilities at the Caldwell Municipal Golf Course, including new golfcart storage and bringing O'Connor Fieldhouse and the surrounding facilities back under city control, hiring a manager, and completing the first renovation of the facility that included a new roof, insulation of the facility along with a new heating and cooling system and concession stand.  He also pressed for a pressurized irrigation system to replace a failed flood irrigation system in one of the City's Irrigation Districts, and supported a shift of that district's management from the City to a board elected by the patrons of the District.  He was a dedicated and hard-working member of the Council.

     He is a Life Member of Kiwanis International, a service organization, and served as Club Secretary and President, Lieutenant Governor (serving clubs of the Treasure Valley), as Governor of the Utah-Idaho District and as a Kiwanis International Certified Trainer and Committee Chairman.  He was awarded the Circle of Service Award by Circle K International, the college-aged service club sponsored by Kiwanis International.

     After earning the rank of Eagle Scout while in high school, he went on to serve as a Scoutmaster, District Chairman and member of the Ore-Ida Council Executive Board.  For his extraordinary service to Scouting, he was awarded both the District Award of Merit as well as the highest award a Council can award -- The Silver Beaver.

    Kent was organizing Vice President of Early Parenting Support Services, Inc. in Caldwell, and was founding President of Caldwell Crime Stoppers, Inc. and Neighborhood Watch.  He also served as Small Business Chair of Fundraising for The United Way. 

    He served as a member of the School Board of Caldwell School District during a period of upheaval, assisting in interviewing candidates and ultimately hiring a new Superintendent.  While on the School Board, Kent served on the team that negotiated the Teacher Contract and was instrumental in moving several of the contract items into Board Policy.  For his work on the Caldwell School Board, Kent was awarded a Level II Excellence Award for Boardmanship by the Idaho School Board Association.

       Kent has served for the last several years as an Elections Pollworker or Senior Judge along with his wife, Sylvia.

      He has been involved in Republican Party politics for most of his life, working on campaigns, serving as District Chair of the Canyon County Republican Party and was instrumental in the drafting of the Republican State Platform eight years ago.  Several years ago, while he was involved with the family business, he helped draft a Senate bill to stop government competition with private businesses across the state, rallying many businesses in support of the bill.  The bill, while it passed in the Senate came up one vote short in the House, but it was just the beginning of Kent's annual involvement with the Legislature.  Just last year, Kent wrote a proposal to overhaul Idaho's Property Tax that he sent to his own and to key Legislators.  His proposal is currently being studied by Legislators and it is possible that a bill may still be introduced this session using that plan as a framework.

     Kent continues to follow the activities of the Legislature daily -- watching Committee Hearings and Floor activities on live-stream, reading and studying bills, and contacting Legislators.

      Like anything else he has done in his life, Kent does his homework and works tirelessly to accomplish his goals.  He will work hard for you as a member of the Idaho Legislature.  You can count on it.

​

​

    

​