By John Villarreal

REXBURG—This past Friday, Nov. 12, the Madison County Republican Women hosted Janice McGeachin, the first female to serve as Idaho’s lieutenant governor. McGeachin stopped in Rexburg along the campaign trail in her bid to be Idaho’s next governor. The meeting was held at Madison Jr. High and was open to the public.

McGeachin began her speech by clearly stating that she did not believe in career politicians.

“After serving ten years (as a State Representative), I term-limited myself,” she said.

McGeachin expressed her love for the state of Idaho and her country, then asked, “What has happened to our state, to our nation?”

McGeachin continued by saying she espoused conservative and traditional values.

“The things we value are faith in God, love of our country, the love of our freedoms and liberties,” she said, and followed with her belief that these things are “all under attack right now.”

McGeachin asserted that the Biden Administration prioritized illegal immigrants over American citizens, saying the borders were being “flooded” and there was “lawlessness” at U.S. borders.

“And the prospect of giving money and benefits to all these people, while our own citizens are suffering, it’s just so wrong,” she said.

McGeachin spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic and how authorities advertised initial precautions as two weeks of quarantine to flatten the curve and then life would be normal again, but it was not so.

She emphasized the need for integrity and honesty in laws and warned that the lack thereof would bring “chaos and anarchy in our society.”

While sporting an autographed MAGA hat, McGeachin shared about her recent opportunity to meet former President Donald Trump and receive his endorsement.

She emphasized the urgent need for election integrity and forensic audits, asserting that forensic audits were important to ensure that each state’s election laws were being followed and enforced. She mentioned that citizens get audited for things like taxes and business transactions, and it would only be right for the government to be audited.

“It should all be about government transparency,” she said.

McGeachin shared her beliefs on the need to protect policies such as strong and secure borders, thoroughly vetting people before they are allowed into the country.

“I think, as loving citizens when people are seeking refuge, we should do what we can to help them out,” she said. “But they need to be welcomed into host families … to help them assimilate.”

McGeachin spoke of her concerns about education and how the Biden Administration will give school districts grant funding for implementing “questionable teachings like the 1619 project,” of which she spoke against passionately.

“The underlying principles that make America so great, is that we are created by God in His image with certain unalienable rights, and those rights are that we have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” she said.

McGeachin concluded her speech by stating what she would do as governor of Idaho.

1. “Shred the FEMA emergency, that is keeping us hostage to the Federal government.”

2. “Reduce dependency of Federal government.”

3. “Return any of these assessments/fees against these businesses, for opening up in violation of Gov. Little pounding the nails over the doors of our businesses and churches.”

4. “Free up our citizens and their entrepreneur spirit by better utilizing our natural resources.”

5. “Create freedom and liberty clinics and hospitals and have true competition, which will lower the cost of healthcare.”

6. “Create a classical liberal education. Go back to the basics (reading, writing, arithmetic, philosophy, and language).”

McGeachin’s final thought was the following: “Under a McGeachin Administration, there is going to be liberty, freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.”