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Nicole LeFavour

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Nicole LeFavour
Member of the Idaho Senate
from District 19
In office
December 1, 2008 – December 1, 2012
Preceded byMike Burkett
Succeeded byCherie Buckner-Webb
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from District 19 Seat B
In office
December 1, 2004 – December 1, 2008
Preceded byKen Robison
Succeeded byBrian Cronin
Personal details
Born (1964-02-08) February 8, 1964 (age 60)
Colorado
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceBoise, Idaho
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
University of Montana-Missoula
San Francisco State University
ProfessionPublic school teacher
Website4idaho.org

Nicole LeFavour (born February 8, 1964) is an American politician and educator from Idaho who served as an Idaho State Senator from 2008 to 2012. LeFavour had previously served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2004 to 2008.

Early life, education, and early career

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Nicole LeFavour was born in Colorado to Pat and Bruce LeFavour. They grew up in Central Idaho in Custer County, near the Frank Church Wilderness where they later worked. LeFavour received a bachelor's degree in cognitive science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's of Fine Arts in writing from the University of Montana-Missoula. In 2010, LeFavour completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow. They moved to Boise in 1990.

LeFavour taught at the University of Montana from 1989–1990. They worked for the Snake River Alliance from 1992–1994. In 1996, LeFavour taught at the Fort Boise School. A news reporter for the Boise Weekly from 1997–1998, LeFavour was a board member for the Ada County Human Rights Task Force from 1999–2002. They were also a board member of the Choices in Community Giving from 2000–2002 and the Western States Center from 2002–2005. LeFavour worked for the Idaho Center on Budget & Tax Policy from 2000–2004.

LeFavour owned a small business, LeFavour Graphic Design, from 2000 to 2005, and has taught writing at The Cabin Literary Center for more than a decade and at the Writers at Harriman program for the past four years. In 2004, they were a lobbyist for the Idaho Community Action Network. In 2007, LeFavour was a delegate for the Idaho Human Rights Education Center's 2007 European Human Rights Mission.[1]

Idaho House of Representatives (2004-2008)

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Elections

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In 2004, incumbent Democrat State Representative Ken Robison of Idaho's 19B House District decided to retire. LeFavour decided to run in the 19th district, which was placed in parts of the city of Boise. They won the three-way Democratic primary with 2,163 votes (54.55%)[2] and won the general election with 13,350 votes (67.2%).[3] In 2006, LeFavour ran unopposed and won re-election to a second term with 14,217 votes.[4]

Tenure

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In 2006, LeFavour criticized the passage of Idaho Amendment 2, which made it unconstitutional for Idaho to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions.[5]

They heavily criticized many of the state's budgets which in their view cut taxes and spending too much, thus eliminating thousands of jobs. In 2007, LeFavour was named "Idaho Business Review Women of the Year".[6]

They fought to reduce prison population by improving the state's substance abuse and mental health programs. In 2008, LeFavour was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Idaho State Planning Council on Mental Health.[7]

Committee assignments

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LeFavour is a strong proponent of bicycling infrastructure
  • Environment, Energy and Technology
  • Judiciary, Rules and Administration
  • Revenue and Taxation

Idaho Senate (2008–2012)

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Elections

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LeFavour announced in March 2008 they would retire from the Idaho House to run for the 19th Senate District, seeking the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic State Senator F. Michael Burkett. In the general election, LeFavour defeated Chuck Meissner with 15,163 votes (71.3%).[8] In 2010, LeFavour was re-elected to a second term with 10,246 votes (68.8%).[9]

Tenure

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At a demonstration inside the Statehouse to add the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to Idaho's civil rights statutes .

LeFavour was extremely active in Idaho's Add The Words campaign. LeFavour proposed amending Idaho's Human Rights Act to cover discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.[10] In 2012 the Add the Words bill ultimately did not make it out of committee.[11][12]

Twice elected to the Legislative Council by their peers,[13] LeFavour was an advocate for increased spending in Idaho schools and access to mental health/substance abuse treatment programs.[14][15]

Committee assignments

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LeFavour's past committee assignments were:[16]

  • Education
  • Judiciary and Rules
  • Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee.[17]

2012 congressional election

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Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho, 2012

In February 2012, LeFavour announced that they would not be seeking re-election to the state legislature,[18] but announced their candidacy for the United States Congress in Idaho's 2nd District the following month.[19] They challenged seven-term Republican U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson,[20] whom they debated twice[21][22][23] and criticized as being only superficially moderate, citing his vote against discrimination protections for women in the workplace.[24] Had LeFavour been elected, they would have been the second openly lesbian member of the U.S. Congress,[25] but polled 34.8% of the vote.[26] This was in and of itself the strongest showing of any Democratic candidate against Mike Simpson as an incumbent: Craig Williams got 25.9% of the vote in 2000,[27] Edward Kinghorn 29.0% in 2002,[28] Lin Witworth 29.3% in 2004,[29] Jim D. Hansen 34.43% in 2006,[30] Deborah Holmes 31% in 2008,[31] and Mike Crawford 24.4% in 2010.[32] LeFavour noted after the election on the campaign's Facebook page that, as a candidate, they had received the most votes in eastern Idaho of any Democrat who had run against Simpson as an incumbent, and that "last but not least, we've put to rest the question of whether Idahoans will actually vote for a gay person."[33]

Continuing advocacy

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A co-optation of the Keep Calm and Carry On meme on behalf of the LGBT Add The Words, Idaho human rights campaign

After their service as a public representative, LeFavour has remained active in LGBTQ affairs.[34] They were one of 44 activists arrested[35][36] on February 3, 2014, at the Statehouse on suspicion of misdemeanor trespassing, having blocked the Idaho Senate's entrances for more than two hours in a silent protest[37] two months in the planning [38] on behalf of the Add The Words campaign, an act of civil disobedience[39] which they had organized.[40][41] Three of those arrested were juveniles, and LeFavour was, unexpectedly,[42] the last person to be arrested after the Idaho Senate voted to suspend its rule which allows former members to be on the Senate floor.[43]

By the end of February, following other protests, 122 arrests had been conducted (with some protestors being arrested for than once, and all of whom are being represented pro bono[44]), and negotiations between LGBT-rights advocates and religiously conservative legislators had tentatively begun.[45] By early March, LeFavour had been arrested four times in five weeks,[46] and in mid-March, was discovered in an act of political theater during a direct action protest after having literally hid in a closet in the Idaho Senate lounge for hours.[47] Ultimately LeFavour has been arrested ten times;[48] at a court hearing in late July 2014 LeFavour took a plea deal and was sentenced to seventy hours of community service and fined $70 plus additional court costs.[49]

Awards

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  • 1997 Idaho Press Club Award[50] for their story Where Have You Gone, Joe Albertson
  • 2001 United Nations Human Rights Day Award, Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights[50]
  • 2001 Women Making History Award, Boise State University Women's Center [50]
  • 2004 Grassroots Leader of the Year, United Vision for Idaho[50]
  • 2007 Women of the Year Award, Idaho Business Review[6][50]
  • 2008 Legislator of the Year, Idaho State Planning Council on Mental Health[50]

Personal life

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LeFavour's partner more than a decade, Carol Growhoski, was in the later years of LeFavour's service in the legislature invited to participate in the "Legisladies,"[51] a social organization of female legislative spouses.[52] (The two had married in Idaho's Custer County in July 2017, and had previously been civil unioned in Vermont in 2006). LeFavour was the first ever openly gay member of the Idaho Legislature;[18] their election campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. They made a personal "It Gets Better" video,[53] in which they noted,[14]

When I first walked into this building [the Idaho Statehouse] fifteen years ago to talk to lawmakers about what it was like to be a gay person in Idaho, many didn't think they had ever met anyone gay; sadly, some were cruel... Today, I serve in the Senate next to some of the same people and some have changed... Together, with time, you and I and this world we live in, will work together to make sure it gets better.

LeFavour is featured in the documentaries Breaking Through (2013) [54] and Add the Words (2014).[55]

In April 2013 they were denied unemployment benefits, inasmuch as elected officials are not eligible.[56]

LeFavour's papers have been collected in Boise State University's Special Collections archives.[57] Audio and video interviews are collected at Boise State University,[58] the Idaho State Historical Society,[59] and the Outwords Archive.[60]

References

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  1. ^ "Senator Nicole LeFavour's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  2. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "May 25, 2004 Primary Election Results". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  3. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "November 2, 2004 General Election Results". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  4. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "November 7, 2006 General Election Results". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  5. ^ "A Statement From Rep. Nicole LeFavour". Boise Weekly. March 1, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "A great event". Idaho Business Review. February 23, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  7. ^ "Legislative Branch" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of State of Idaho. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  8. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "November 4, 2008 General Election Results". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  9. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "November 2, 2010 General Election Results". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  10. ^ Miller, John (May 16, 2013). "Nicole LeFavour does campaign legwork in 2nd District Congressional race". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  11. ^ Popkey, Dan (February 10, 2012). "Senate Republicans quickly kill Idaho 'Add the Words' gay rights bill". Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  12. ^ Yardley, William (2 March 2012). "Idaho Senator to Push Gay Rights Bill From Outside". The New York Times.
  13. ^ "Legislative Council". Idaho Legislature. 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  14. ^ a b "LeFavour will be missed in Idaho Senate | Idaho Press-Tribune Opinion". Idahopress.com. 2012-02-28. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2013-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Senate Committees". Idaho Legislature. 2012. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  17. ^ "JFAC Members". Idaho Legislature. 2012. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Brandt, Jaclyn (February 24, 2012). "Senator Nicole LeFavour announces she will not be seeking re-election". Nampa, Idaho: KIVI-TV. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  19. ^ "LeFavour sets sights on D.C." KTVB. March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  20. ^ Newbold, Taylor (March 28, 2012). "After election setbacks in 2010, Idaho Democrats are again ready for a fight". Boise Weekly. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  21. ^ "VIDEO: 2nd Congressional district debate - Simpson and LeFavour, part…". www.ktvb.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  22. ^ "VIDEO: 2nd Congressional district debate - Simpson and LeFavour, part 2 | KTVB.COM Boise". Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  23. ^ "The Idaho Debates 2012 (Idaho Public Television)". www.idahoptv.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  24. ^ "Nicole LeFavour - Candidate for U.S. President, Republican Nomination - Election 2012". Projects.wsj.com. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  25. ^ "Record Number Of Out Gay Candidates Run For Congress In 2012", Chris Geidner, BuzzFeed, July 18, 2012
  26. ^ "UNOFFICIAL County Votes - Election Night Reporting". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20.
  27. ^ "2000 General Results Federal". www.sos.idaho.gov.
  28. ^ "2002 General Results statewide". www.sos.idaho.gov.
  29. ^ "2004 General Results statewide". www.sos.idaho.gov.
  30. ^ "2006 General Results statewide". www.sos.idaho.gov.
  31. ^ "2008 General Results statewide". www.sos.idaho.gov.
  32. ^ "2010 General Results statewide". www.sos.idaho.gov.
  33. ^ "What to Celebrate". www.facebook.com.
  34. ^ "BOISE, Idaho: 'Add the Words' activists eye service-denial bill | Sta…". www.idahostatesman.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  35. ^ "State police cite 44 for trespassing after 'Add the Words' protest bl…". www.idahostatesman.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  36. ^ Prentice, George. "The Wrong Side of History". Boise Weekly. Archived from the original on 2016-08-29. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  37. ^ "43 Gay Rights Activists Arrested In Idaho". On Top Magazine.
  38. ^ "2 months' planning, 3 hours, all for 4 words | Idaho Legislature | Id…". www.idahostatesman.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  39. ^ "State police arrest Add the Words activists for blocking Senate | KBOI". Kboi2.com. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  40. ^ "Sorry, we can't seem to find the page you're looking for". 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014 – via washingtonpost.com.
  41. ^ "Dozens of gay rights activists arrested in Idaho". Usatoday.com. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  42. ^ "Popkey: Add the Words protest marred by focus on former senator | Ida…". www.idahostatesman.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  43. ^ "Police arrest 'Add the Words' protesters who blocked Senate chambers | KTVB.COM Boise". Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  44. ^ "Idaho's arrested 'Add the Words' activists added lawyers". Gayly.com. 2014-02-05. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  45. ^ "Add the Words talks in infancy | Idaho Legislature | Idahostatesman.c…". www.idahostatesman.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  46. ^ "Former Idaho senator arrested four times in past five weeks | KTVB.CO…". Archived from the original on 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
  47. ^ "Former Idaho senator asked to leave Statehouse closet | The Spokesman-Review". Spokesman.com. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  48. ^ Richardson, Carla. "Faces of Pride: Nicole LeFavour". USA Today. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  49. ^ "Gay, gender rights protesters get their day in court | Idaho Legislat…". www.idahostatesman.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  50. ^ a b c d e f "Our Congressional Candidates - Idaho Democratic Party". Idaho Democratic Party. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  51. ^ "Idaho LegisLadies". Idaholegisladies.blogspot.com. 2010-03-15. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  52. ^ "Notes From The Floor: Once a Senator". notesfromthefloor.typepad.com.
  53. ^ "LeFavour posts It Gets Better video, calls for changes to bullying law". Idaho Reporter. Idaho Freedom Foundation. November 30, 2010. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2012. It does get better in the world when you realize the strengths you have inside yourself that you didn't know you had.
  54. ^ "BREAKING THROUGH". BREAKING THROUGH.
  55. ^ Anonymous, Anonymous. "Add the Words (2014)". IMDB. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  56. ^ "LeFavour denied unemployment benefits | Idaho Government and Politics". Magicvalley.com. 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  57. ^ Archives West
  58. ^ Scholar Works, Boise State University
  59. ^ Research Works, Idaho State Historical Society
  60. ^ The Outwords Archive
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