Joseph Messerly is a Soda Springs business owner who decided to run for state office because of one issue: Idaho libraries.
His mother is a children’s librarian, and she even testified in opposition to one of the early iterations of this year’s legislation meant to restrict children’s access to library material, which ultimately passed the Legislature under House Bill 710 and was signed into law in April by Idaho Gov. Brad Little.
Messerly told the Idaho Capital Sun, they are on a four-day school week in Soda Springs, and up to 30 kids are in the library on Fridays.
Messerly, a Democratic candidate, is running for election for the first time to the Idaho House of Representatives to represent District 35, Seat A, which is located in eastern Idaho.
Messerly has entered Idaho’s 2024 legislative races along with 86 other Democrats who have said they are driven by concerns related to legislation affecting library materials, reproductive rights and public education.
