Earned a B.A. in fire administration, California State – Los Angeles; MPA in public administration, University of Southern California; retired after 30 years in fire service (fire fighter to fire chief); executive fire officer certification, U.S. Fire Academy; professional/volunteer associations: fire service, YMCA, Optimist, Rotary, school district, and Elks; Idaho Family Forest owner since 1993; spouse: Jane Sauter; two adult children.