Keith Allred boasts the independent streak that characterizes his home state and so many of its people. A fifth-generation Idahoan, Keith was raised in Twin Falls. He grew up hunting and fishing the Wood River valley where his great-great-grandfather grubbed the family homestead out of sage brush over a century ago. During high school, tough economic times meant that he spent summers working his family's 1,200 acre, 400 head cattle ranch all on his own.
Keith's Idaho upbringing gave him both the confidence to go out into the world and the conviction that he would return home to pursue his life's work. That work is bringing people together to solve problems. In 1995, Keith got a Ph.D. at UCLA with a specialty in conflict resolution. For the next decade, Keith taught conflict resolution and leadership, first, as a professor at Columbia University and, then, at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Keith's real passion, though, is for solving real world problems. In 2003, he returned to Idaho to raise his family and resolve disputes. A can-do mediator, Keith has settled conflicts involving public lands, land use, hydroelectric dams, and tribal issues.
Keith's determination to solve problems by bringing people together shapes his politics as well as his profession. As an undergraduate studying American History, Keith was impressed by the founding fathers' determination to address the "problem of faction"--what we today call partisan and special interest politics--in order to form a government by, for, and of the people.
Their thinking still shapes his thinking. In 2004, Keith founded The Common Interest. This citizens’ group of more than 1,600 Idahoans -- Republicans, Democrats, and independents -- works to put common sense solutions ahead of special interest and partisan politics in the legislature. Over the last five years, Keith has led The Common Interest to a record of impressive legislative achievements. Working with The Common Interest, Keith cut property taxes on Idaho homeowners and protected private property rights. He also beat back Butch Otter's proposals to build a private prison and to raise registration fees on cars and pickups by 138% during a recession.
Keith and his wife Christine are now raising a sixth generation of Idahoans. Keith spends as much time as possible camping, fly-fishing and skiing with Anna, Dan, and Cate, and has even exchanged cutting horse competitions (Keith rode his prize mare, Little Angelena, to Nationals twice) for trail riding with them in the foothills near their Eagle home.