Idaho Solutions Panel on Civil Discourse In-Person
In partnership with Idaho Solutions – a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing good governance, sustainable tax structures, educational excellence, and economic prosperity in Idaho – join us for a bipartisan conversation on civil discourse.
Idaho Solutions' traveling panel features Representative Josh Wheeler (Republican - Ammon), Representative Chris Mathias (Democrat - Boise), and Mary Pat Gunderson, retired Iowa district court judge and current Wood River Valley resident. Each panelist will share brief opening remarks before engaging in an open Q&A with the audience.
The discussion will focus on practical strategies for engaging respectfully, even with those whose views differ from our own. The goal of this program, which travels this fall to Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Coeur d’ Alene, and Ketchum, is to help communities strengthen relationships, improve communication, and find common ground on challenging issues.
Registration recommended to join us in person. To watch online (no registration needed) visit: https://vimeo.com/event/5450901. The recording will be available to watch later on The Community Library's Event Archive.
- Date:
- Thursday, November 6, 2025
- Time:
- 5:30pm - 6:30pm
- Time Zone:
- Mountain Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- John A. and Carole O. Moran Lecture Hall
- Campus:
- The Community Library
- Audience:
- Adults
- Categories:
- Lectures & Conversations
Idaho Solutions is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing good governance, sustainable tax structures, educational excellence, and economic prosperity in Idaho. They provide research, policy analysis, and community programming to help citizens and leaders make informed decisions that strengthen the state. By fostering collaboration and pragmatic leadership, Idaho Solutions works to ensure Idaho’s future is safe, prosperous, and grounded in the well-being of its people.
Josh Wheeler represents Idaho District 35 in Eastern Idaho. He currently serves on the House committees for Commerce & Human Resources, Environment, Energy & Technology, and Health & Welfare. Born and raised in Ammon, Idaho, Wheeler pursued a degree in construction management at BYU and received an MBA from Idaho State University. He is currently one-third of the third-generation owners at Wheeler Electric, an eastern Idaho electrical contractor. He previously served on the Ammon City Council.
Chris Mathias represents District 19 in Boise. He currently serves on the House committees for Agricultural Affairs, Resources & Conservation, and State Affairs. Mathias is a graduate of Boise State University with a B.S. in criminal justice administration, where he was also a McNair Scholar and student body president. He is also a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, former chief academic officer for the Idaho State Board of Education, a former U.S. Senate law clerk, and the recipient of multiple civilian awards including the Governor’s Commendation for Distinguished Public Service and Idaho Business Review’s Accomplished 40 Under 40. He has served on the Andrus Center for Public Policy Board of Governors and the Ada County Veterans Treatment Court and is the author of multiple articles about incident management and emergency preparedness in Idaho.
Mary Pat Gunderson is a retired district court judge and aspiring documentarian who relocated to the Wood River Valley five years ago. Before making this transition, Mary Pat resided in Des Moines, Iowa, where she established herself in law following her graduation from the University of Iowa College of Law. In Des Moines, Mary Pat served as a district court judge, appointed to the bench by the Governor of Iowa in 2011. Her judicial career was preceded by her roles as a magistrate and as an assistant Polk County Attorney, where she prosecuted crimes in the Major Offense Bureau focusing on sexual assault and violent crimes against persons. Currently, Mary Pat is in the process of producing a documentary inspired by an article published in the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law. This project highlights her ongoing dedication to exploring important social issues and her ability to bridge her legal expertise with creative storytelling.