Scott Cannon Interview
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1st Disclaimer: I am not a member of any political party. I personally agree and disagree with aspects of both Republican and Democrat platforms.
2nd Disclaimer: I took notes during and after this interview. Since the conversation was not recorded, I gave a site business card to the interviewee and offered them to contact me if they felt I misquoted or mischaracterized them.
Scott Cannon is running for Idaho Falls 32A Representative. As I understand it, Idaho Falls‘ representative districts are shaped like a donut and a donut hole. Scott is running for the area of the donut, which he describes as more of a balance of urban and agricultural interests.
I did not know much about Scott or his campaign, but I recalled the newspaper reporting an issue with him using his business electronic sign for a campaign message and Republican Mike Adams shutting it down. Scott explained he is part owner of AC Sports and Pro Shop, that he shares use of an electronic sign with another business, and that he ran the sign messages for 18 months with no problems. He states someone at the Children’s Center called the property owner and gave an “it’s him or us and we do $50,000 business with you annually” -type of ultimatum, so their business no longer has use of that sign on the property they lease.
Scott spent the next day in his military uniform with his mouth covered, protesting his freedom of speech being denied. Scott spent eight years in the United States Army, rising to an E5/Sargeant in infantry. He served four of those years in South Korea, where he was responsible for the training of 1,400 soldiers. I was impressed with this, since I’ve heard most soldiers count the minutes until their one-year South Korean tours finish.
Scott believes the legislature needs to be a clearinghouse for ideas rather than a place where everyone votes the party line. He observed that his Republican opponent, Janice McGeachin, voted against two specialty license plates (breast cancer awareness and Elks rehabilitation hospital) but voted for the NRA specialty license plate last session.
Scott is a full-time student at ISU, studying mass communications and business. He currently runs two businesses, the afore-mentioned AC Sports and Infiniti Water (bottles). We had a break because session started, so the following discussion is from the next day.
Scott believes a gay marriage ban is not needed, that it is a practice of exclusion. He believes our government has strayed from protecting individual rights and freedoms. He disagrees with Republican philosophies that mandate “you’re either with us or against us”, and agrees with Democratic philosophies that say “it’s ok to disagree but at least have your own opinion.”
Scott believes Idaho is overdue for making a choice to change. He noted that changes incur growing pains and make people uncomfortable. I recalled a professor who asked what the best way to learn a foreign language was, and the class agreed the best way was the most uncomfortable: to live with a family in a village speaking only that language. Scott agreed the biggest changes will also be the most uncomfortable, but they will help Idahoans learn the most and the quickest.
I asked the following question:
Won’t the Democrats just increase my taxes for social programs?
Scott replied, “absolutely not.” He admitted Democrats have a history of doing that, but pointed to the 80% middle class of America that have been the most taxed since Republicans have been in power, both nationally and in Idaho. Scott wants to cut grocery taxes in half, and makeup the difference by cutting some of the $75 million given annually in corporate and high-income earner exemptions. He believes if you have more from your society, you can give more to help the society that gave you so much.
Scott said he believes the Democrats are more about helping others help themselves, as opposed to Republicans who cram their beliefs down everyone else’s throats.
I asked the following question:
Why are Democrats so despised in Idaho?
Scott thinks Idaho Democrats have been unfairly associated with nationally-polarizing figures. He said they have all been compared to Bill Clinton’s morality shortcomings, and liberals like the Kennedy’s and Hillary Clinton. He believes every group has a fringe element, but one can find more plain talk and common sense from Democrats. Scott reiterated, “we are not Kennedy’s or Hillary”, and talked about how he loved to shoot his guns.
My impression of Scott is he is very passionate about Idaho, he has lots of energy, and he has high personal standards for his own professional conduct. He has deep roots in Idaho Falls, so he knows our area and our needs. Scott’s wide variety of experiences and youthful energy (he’s about 30 years old) could make him fight hard to represent Idaho Falls well.
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Comments
Vote:
0 
0 JAC-
I don’t know how the funding stuff works, except for direct billing like any office. Are you saying the Children’s Center gets grants, or is awarded contracts in addition from Medicaid? I’ve wondered if they do.
How can they build such big buildings, and yes I think the Admin is well-paid (don’t know about front line workers), with just Medicaid reimbursements? There is something I clearly am missing here, as my math skills don’t add up to Medicaid payments = high salaries and new buildings.
Do you or anyone have any idea if the State of ID awards grants and/or contracts in addition to direct billing for the Children’s Center? If so, there should be somewhere to find RFPs or granting. I’d sure like to look at any sites that might show how competitive bidding or grants may have been awarded. I know other agencies in town don’t seem to have the “luck” the Children’s Center enjoys, and other agencies have tried to get some grants or contracts - I’m not sure which. And maybe the Children’s Center success is due to Mike Adams, I don’t know. Maybe there are political favors being rewarded, with contracts or whatever financial perks may occur at the State level? Maybe not, I don’t know, but it is puzzling to me!
I don’t have any idea what you mean about the child porn and the Children’s Center. How could someone be hired to work with kids and not somehow have to be screened (or whatever it would be called) to ask about stuff like chid porn? That’s awful! Maybe I missed your point entirely, so any clarification would be greatly appreciated. Child porn is a big deal to me, and I don’t want to misunderstand what you are saying.
I know that anywhere kids have psychotherapy, the lives of the child, family, maybe school and environment will be subjects the therapist addresses. If I child is nor adapting or adjusting to his/her world (for whatever reason), it’s the therapist’s job to figure out where potential obstacles are for each kid. If you mean something other than what is asked in personal counseling, I don’t know what you mean and am confused.
Thanks for your post. I thought Mr. Cannon got a raw deal - and I don’t know him-only read the story. But, it seemed odd enough to me that one business could get a political candidate’s sign removed (another business also renting from the same owner). It sure sounds like there is more going on than just “business” going on.
Vote:
0 0 Well as far as “favors” for the childrens center you can only guess. But in the PR article about Mr. Cannon Mike Adams said the sign being turned off was a “business decision” So if you follow the money that the Children center has given to GOP interests might raise the an eyebrow or two. You can find that info on the sec of state web site under contributors or I have listed them below. You be the judge.
Childrens Center 1619 Curlew Drive Ammon ID 83406
Bonneville County Republican Central Committee 11/21/2003 $100.00
Childrens Center 1619 Curlew Dr Ste #8 Idaho Falls ID 83406 Republican Region #7 Committee 5/4/2004 $1,000.00
Children’s Center 1619 Curlew Drive #8 Idaho Falls ID 83406
Republican Region #7 Committee 2/21/2006 $250.00
Childrens Center 1619 Curlew Dr Ste 8 Ammon ID 83406 2/3/2006 $1,000.00 Thomas Raymond Luna
Children’s Center 1619 Curlew Dr Ste 8 Idaho Falls ID 83406 4/24/2006
$500.00 Jack T. Barraclough
Children’s Center (The) 1619 Curlew Dr. Ste. 8 Idaho Falls ID 83406 5/17/2004 $100.00 Tom Loertscher
Children’s Center (The) 1619 Curlew Idaho Falls ID 83406 4/16/2004
$100.00 Tom Loertscher
Vote:
0 0 Ok4Now:
Medicaid typically doesn’t reimburse as highly as regular insurance. However, with programs like IBI and PSR, medicaid reimburses at high rates. Many local social service agencies bring in a lot of money through medicaid reimbursed programs. Trust me, I have worked for several agencies in IF and Pocatello. The current agency I work for, not the Children’s Center, has an owner who drives a BMW. When you offer enough services and make smart business decisions, you can get very wealthy through these programs. I believe Matt Smith (CEO of the Children’s Center) drives the Cadillac SUV, the names escapes me, but anyways…Escalade?
The Children’s Center hired a man with a child porn addiction who was caught in Pocatello looking at porn in his car. I am not saying they should be psychics and know about people with clean records, but maybe if they were more selective in their hiring process, they wouldn’t hire idiots like this guy who was caught with the porn.
Again, I find it ironic and sickening that the Children’s Center donates to Republicans when Republicans are the ones who would love to see medicaid destroyed.
Vote:
0 0 I just noticed they donated money to Tom Luna who has no background or education in special education. Yet, Jana Jones has a degree and experience in that area. I am shaking my head…I cannot believe people who work with children in special education would trust Tom Luna…scary indeed.
Vote:
0 0 Jessica and Vote4Change,
Thanks for answering a lot of my questions! A BMW and an Escalade - WOW! Honestly, I felt nauseated when I first read that ’cause I’ll bet front line workers aren’t making the $ they should be.
Ok, I’ve gotten both the concepts that checks donating money to the Republican party and/or candidates, from the Children’s Center Suite #8 and high payments for IBI and PSR are really where the CC make their money. I still have a few questions.
The CC clearly has competition. I remember that one PR article last fall or sometime when the CEO wouldn’t talk about all they wanted to do in the big build due to competition concerns, or something similar. So for each agency in town that provides the same or similar services, are they reimbursed on a fee for service, meaning the agency only receiveds payment for enrolled clients? Say that is the case, then how would this work: say a kid is in IBI and it’s deemed imporant to his/her overall improvement to have PSR, then is that ONE child billed for both services separately? Or, would one child receive whatever services the agency has under their roof and be billed for all services as just one child? You may not know the answer, but I’m guessing that both you and I do, as I think I’m starting to undersand how Medicaid can be profitable in some settings.
Vote:
0 0 Just a few more questions/thoughts. That BNW and Cadillac SUV have bothered me since I read your info, Jessica. I don’t want you to get in any trouble at work, so if you can’t answer these questions, I’ll understand. Perhaps others can.
How can competing agencies compete? It sounds like people like you, Jessica, try to find the best programs. But, with the $ the CC seems to be making, I don’t know how other, smaller programs can compete.
This is just a theoretical question, but say other competing agencies made “donations” at key times to the Republican Party and certain GOP candidates (and yes, I did read Luna has NO background in education), if the other agencies were to make these donations, theoretically, do you think they would benefit? Or, is the key here that Mike Adams and Matt Smith are at the CC?
Speaking of Mike Adams and Matt Smith, does anyone know their professionals qualifications to be running a center like this? I know Adams was a radio talk show host, but I can’t figure out what he does for the CC, except maybe help secure help from Boise, if you know what I mean.
And Matt Smith, everything I’ve ever read or heard about him, just refers to him as CEO. While that’s ok, it would seem to me that someone running an agency would want to put their social services/psychology or even an MBA or whatever degree or degrees they have earned with their title. If I’m a parent taking my child to a center for help, I darn well want to know the qualifications of those in charge. I’ve read about the FCC, and their many programs. On their web page they put the training and degrees of those in charge, and other workers. I don’t really know what other agencies offer the same services, so I don’t know how they list credentials.
Jessica, it’s ok if you can’t comment on this, but your BMW-driving boss, does he/she have any degrees in human services? I’m wondering if a group of MBA-types, have found a lucrative area in which to conduct business and it may not be about helping the kids.
Oh, another thing is while I can’t say for sure if this is true or not, a mom who takes her kids to the CC told me there is a Montessori school at the CC. Maybe I’m totally confused, but I thought Montessori schools were for either children whose parents want a higher student/teacher ratio than public schools, or “gifted children” who could learn at their own pace.
So, if this mom is correct, are we to believe that Medicaid dollars are going toward a Montessori education? I don’t see how a Montessori and IBI, PSR etc. fit together. Maybe there is a theory that children with emotional/behavioral problems also need to learn at their own pace, so Montessori is ideal over publich schools. I don’t know and I don’t claim to be any kind of expert about it.
That mom told me one other thing, which again I don’t know to be true, only what she thinks or knows. So allegedly, the Montessori school at the CC is run by Matt Smith’s sister. Again, I don’t know if that is fact or fiction and if anyone does know, I’d appreciate a definitive answer.
I don’t get it. I don’t get where Suite #8 is at the CC’s old bldg, unless they somehow divided that last suite into two. I have a good friend who USE to work at the CC and told me some things as he was moved around the building to do his work. Just given the timeline Vote4Change has given us, I didn’t know the CC had a Suite #8 during most of those campaign contributions.
Thanks for any clarification. I guess I want to know more, ’cause my friend moved out-of-state and wouldn’t talk about it.
Vote:
0 0 Ok4Now,
There is a private charter school that has been approved for 150 students in the new building, so parents can drop off or have there kids picked up and kept at one place from 8:30am until 5pm. All at state expence. The women hired to start this school has started the Jefferson Charter school. As far a Matt Smith and Mike Adams jobs, Mike Adams is a P.R. man, and Matt Smith is a Business manager who organiazed and started this this venue for people to work in a spot he controls while he gets a cut. I am sure the two are more important in securing Boise GOP help then helping kids. It must be tough work watching others help kids will you keep getting richer off of Government programs, Kinda like Halibortan maybe.
Vote:
0 0 vote4change,
What did you think of Matt Smith’s comments on KIDK Friday? Does he always omit so much relevant material, as he did in that interview? I know factually, and can prove it in print, that some of what he said was misleading. I’m not saying he lied, but I am saying he didn’t tell the entire truth. Words, phrases, bullet points - if you well - were carefully selected. It’s what he didn’t say that really bothers me. Very few people who saw that interview will know the truth, unless they personally know employees or others who worked at the Children’s Center.
And Mary Sturgill, is she really that easily fooled that she wouldn’t ask more questions? I’m saddened after reading that piece.
Is there anything one can do to stop the things Matt isn’t telling? Is this common for him and his buddy, Mike Adams?
Also, I don’t totally understand what is meant by the GOP Central Committee. Why is it the Central Committee; what is it central to - a location in the state, the county the donors etc.?
In your experience, vote4change, are local residents aware of how much ommision occurs in Matt’s “power statements?” There were elements that reminded me of Scott Cannon’s experience again.
Look how much we didn’t know about what really happened with Scott Cannon until we got to talk more about it here. We started to talk about what really happened after Joe interviewed Mr. Cannon at the DNC convention in I.F. I look forward to your thoughts, and those of others as well.
Vote:
0 0 Ok4now,
While I did not see the story on KIDK, I was able to read what they had posted on their site. What it sounds like to me is that The Children’s Center needed some press and the small town station gave it to them. I wonder if other local business would be allowed to use channel 3 in prime time for promoting their businesses. That’s all that story was, advertising disguised as news. No one will say anything about how misleading Matt’s comments might have been. I am sure that Mary took the Press Release that Mike Adams sent to her, and built her story around that. Why would she look for anything else about a topic? Laziness? She has a two minute story feed to her, why bite a hand that feeds you? This is nothing new, once the spin that Matt and Mike want on things are out, anything after that is secondary. They also know that the chances of a follow up story on what really is going on is not likly to happen.
The Bonneville GOP Central Committee are the core leaders of the GOP in Idaho Falls. The Mayor, city council members, and other big wig “leaders” in GOP circles form this group. They control GOP happenings in and around Idaho Falls. Think of the popular clique of kids in high school, same mind set in the GOP central Committee. They are the cool kids with all the pull. Their money and positions allow for a huge amount of control and they like it that way.
Vote:
0 0 KIDK has a history of lazy journalism: http://idahofallz.com/2005/12/18/live-from-wal-mart-is-not-news/
Vote:
0 0 Thanks, vote4change and Joe. It really bugs me that KIDK appears to be that lazy! While I don’t know what either of you do, I’m willing to bet that like me, such sloppiness in your work, would NOT be tolerated. Your information has decreased my blood from “boiling” just a bit. At least I know why KIDK chose to be the messenger of partial truths.
vote4change, any chance someone at KIDK is a “messenger” - owes Smith and Adams somehow, due to party affiliation, and makes sure KIDK gets their message out? I don’t expect you to know all of their employees, but I remember two other stories that only KIDK has run about Matt Smith and the Children’s Center. I have no idea who the station manager or new director etc. are. KIDK is owned by Fisher Communications, so I doubt if the connection is corporate. But, I just can’t help but wonder if there is a party “loyalist” who jumps when asked by the “big boys.”
Thanks for explaning the Central Committee thing to me. I can’t remember, did I ever tell you that one time when I met Mike Adams and asked him exactly what he did for the GOP he said, “Not much. People make me something bigger than I am.”
What local residents, candidates etc. would be comparable for the Democratic party? How do those people get some of these sweet deals Matt Smith and Mike Adams seem to enjoy?
Thanks again for your thoughts. They are helpful to me.
Vote:
0 0 Joe,
I was just looking at Scott Cannon’s website. Did you know that under “news” on his website, they linke back to your interview on this site?
If you didn’t know that previously, his site is: http://www.votescottcannon.com. I wonder if links from sites like his are contributing to the higher numbers of visits (and overall exposure) to this site? I don’t know if any of your other interviews have done this, but I think it’s rather smart.
Vote:
0 0 I finally watched that KIDK segment on the Children’s Center (love the DVR). Ehhh, it was obviously a story TCC called KIDK to report on, and it was obviously scripted to be a pseudo-journalistic advertisement for TCC.
However, it seemed like a nice story, that TCC is doing some good in our community. That parent told a nice story. I thought it stupid that the story seemed to be about TCC announcing they will get the new professional in a few months - the real story would seem to occur when that professional starts?
I guess I’m just missing what the potential scandal is with TCC regarding ‘what they didn’t say’ and the Medicare/Medicaid payments?
Vote:
0 0 Joe,
Yes, you are missing what the potential problems are and through no fault of your own. I simply cannot say more here, except to ask anyone else who has information to share, to please do so. For me to say more totally compromises me, and I can’t say why.
For the “new service,” it has already been in place until politics took over. I’ve got 18 months worth of proof.
I can’t comment about the family that was SOOOOOOOO carefully chosen, except to say two things. First, the reporter botched so many things that anyone with a background about these types of issues would have to question several things said.
What I can say, as I believe this is common knowledge in certain circles, is this family lives in Matt Smith’s neighborhood.
While I’m sure I’ve created more questions than I’ve answered, I apologize. I simply cannot say more currently.
Vote:
0 0 I guess there is one thing I can say, which anyone could check to confirm. In the above press release, notice the physician’s name is never mentioned. If they’ve gone to that much trouble to have a press release about a “new service” then why wasn’t the doctor named? First, because this isn’t a new service. Secondly, the doctor who is going to work for Matt Smith isn’t licensed in Idaho yet.
Don’t take my word for it. Having gone through this experience, I know it can take literally 6-14 months to get licensed depending on many factors. Some would be how many states the doctor has lived in and practiced previously, how backed up the BOM is, if all the documents/licenses/certificates etc. are all in the way they are suppose to be and getting a new DEA number etc.
My point, is NO ONE knows for sure when a license will be awarded, unless that person has some connection to the licensing board that I’ve not seen previously.
Sounds like one small fact. That’s correct. But, when lined up together, those small facts certainly suggest a different picture than an agency that is transparent. Given the amount of Medicaid funding that they receive, I’m surprised they aren’t more transparent.
Also, after reading vote4change’s info about donations etc., I looked at the GOP web site for ID. I couldn’t find one for Bonneville County, although I could find a Democratic web site for Bonneville County. On the state republican site, it names Matt Smith as the Executive Committee Chair for LD 32. It’s probably just me, but if I held a political office (within my own party), and was running an agency that received tax payer dollars (like The Children’s Center is from Medicaid), I would want things crystal clear. What if it were you running the business, or what if your child received care at the facility: what information about Mr. Smith’s party affiliation and very profitable business he’s created, would you want to know or have disclosed to parents of patients?
Vote:
0 0 Vote4Change and Jessica,
Did you happen to see the PR’s article this a.m. about the child care providers, Karen and Ashley Roberts, and the plaintiffs, Gary and Beverly Moorhead? I’m not saying this has anything to do with TCC, except maybe it provides a model of what Jessica has been saying. There is $ to be made in PSR and partial care! Wow, I didn’t know it was that kind of money!
I believe the PR said the Moorheads were netting $10K WEEKLY as their part of the deal! Granted some of that was probably from Beverly Moorhead’s psychotherapy portion of the agreement. If I understood the article correctly, the earnings from the PSR portion of the center were split between the Moorheads and Karen Roberts. But, I don’t know what the % or split was for either party. Maybe Roberts got more than 50%, or vice versa. If I missed that detail and anyone picked it up, would you please clarify it for me here?
Vote4Change, I just found it ironic that this facility had about 150 clients. While I am NOT saying they are connected, it sure seems strange that the Charter School at TCC is also suppose to accomodate 150 children. Just a weird coincidence, I guess. But,again, the $ both parties allegedly were making caring for this group of children is absolutey staggering to me.
I certainly don’t understand why the Moorheads, owners of Family Solutions, need a medical provider. Can anyone enlighten me on that one?
It just seems odd how Roberts didn’t appear in court, the $ made in PSR and Partial Care and the number of children being 150. Some program details seem so close to some programs the TCC is providing. But, I don’t know this to be a fact, maybe just a coincidence, Perhaps Matt Smith found out how much money the Moorhead’s were netting weekly and decided to add those programs to TCC, given the profits; but I sure wouldn’t know.
I’d be interested if anyone has any more insight into the Roberts/Moorhead lawsuit,why Roberts didn’teven show Also, how are the Moorhead’s doing with their new business, Family Solutions day care, does anyone know?
Finally, if the PR is correct and Roberts allegedly told parents that Gary Moorhead was sexually abusing children and had embezzeled $, was that part of this lawsuit? I’d be livid if someone accused me of those crimes!
I appreciate any clarification anyone can give. I’m thinking this situation may be how Matt Smith learned how much $ could be made from partial care and PSR. But, I don’t know anything about this case and what Admin at TCC may or may not have even known, or learned, from it. It just strikes me as unusual, given some of our previous discussions.
If anyone knows more than I about thie Roberts/Moorhead split (and allegations made), will you please share your information, if you can. Those were strong allegations about Mr. Moorehead. The fact that he is currently providing day care, would suggest to me someone cleared him of the charges. Would that be the judge, Judge St.Clair, or an investigative team at the time?
Vote:
0 0 The amount of money to be made in this business is astounding. When you look at how Republicans hate governmental handouts, but some rich “powerful” central committee types, are getting rich off those same hand outs, makes you think.
Do these people see my child as a child in need of help? Or is my child just one more helping the “gravy train” in the TCC.
Matt Smith and Mike Adams would love to see welfare, Medicaid, and Medicare go away.
The republican way is to pull yourself up by the boot straps and make yourself succeed.
TCC is using the boot straps of Medicare and Medicaid, on the backs of special needs children. I wonder how comfortable a bed you must own, to sleep in a life full of hypocrisy and profits made off the very things you say you disagree with.
Vote:
0 0 Vote4Change,
You wrote some interesting words. I’m not sre every republican sees life the way you described above. But, as hardliners, I’m sure you’re right about Smith and Adams seeing it that way. Hypcrisy doesn’t seem like a strong enough word!
Is there anything the Bonneville County democrats can do to counter all of this “behavior” by two GOP loyalists? I mean I believe everyone should have their own right to choose who they want in ofice, by VOTING. But, I feel we’re being somewhat forced to live the politics of Matt Smith and Mike Adams, and that I don’t like this feeling.
Do you know the names of some staffers at the Bonneville County democtrats that one might be able to talk with about this issue? I just wonder if some of us, with what we personally know about Adams and Smith can either be of help or get some help. This rip off can’t continue to go on.
I’d appreciate any thoughts, suggestions or ideas that you have. Thanks.
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Vote:
The Children’s Center should spend more time hiring people who don’t look at child porn and less time muddling in other people’s business.
I also find it highly ironic that the Children’s Center is paid primarily through medicaid, as they offers services that are reimbursed through medicaid, yet they have Mike Adams, Mr. Idaho Falls Republican, working there and representing their company. Republicans, especially in Idaho, and for the most part, are opposed to programs like medicaid, yet these Republicans at the Children’s Center owe their wealth to this social program, and believe me, there is a lot of wealth.