THE AMERICAN DREAM
Patterson has always wanted to have the American dream that he remembered from the 50's. A family, a home and being able to support and protect one's family: this is the American dream. But Mark sees the American dream becoming harder and harder for people to gain because government has grown so large and the citizens are becoming servants to the government.

BUSINESS AND TAX POLICY
Today Mark owns his own business, manufacturing a world-renowned product. It is difficult to keep a business going in Idaho with the numerous taxes Idaho puts on private businesses. This is not the America that we grew up in.  Today Idaho has the highest taxes in the Northwest: Idaho's tax burden is the 13th-highest in the nation.

RETURN SURPLUSES
In 2012 the state government is growing; a so-called surplus was spent to again fatten government budgets.  Why haven't they given surpluses back to the citizens?  Some euphemistically called this a sign of recovery.  But, since 2008, a quarter of the Idaho budget was cut with no noticeable reduction in services.  That is 25% that was only missed by bureaucrats.  There is much more that can be done to save Idahoans from over-taxation.

NEW TAX HIKES
We are not hearing much about new and higher taxes this year because this is an election year. Remember in 2009 there was a lot of talk of new gas taxes? Tax hikes have been put on the back burner until after
the election.  We need proven conservatives to hold back the government bureaucrats that are always promoting higher budgets. There are a few excellent men and woman in elected government in our State but not the number we need to get our State back on track so families and businesses can prosper.  Help us finally get enough conservatives to stop the bleeding.

JOBS JOBS JOBS and OUR POSTERITY
Idaho needs jobs. Businesses refuse to relocate to Idaho, because there are 38 states with lower income tax.  One of Mark's personal fears is that someday his daughters will get married. "I am naturally protective.  But, even worse, my son-in-laws may not find jobs in Idaho. They may have to find work elsewhere, taking my
daughters with them.  I'm not the only father who fears for the future of his children." Fortunately, there are a number of ways we can get companies to come to Idaho immediately.  All of them involve tax reductions.

LIMITED GOVERNMENT MEANS JOBS
We must reduce the size of government, so we can lower taxes and cut over-regulation that hampers growth. We can  immediately transform Idaho into a place where many small business want to come. Most small
businesses pay income tax at the individual rate, 8% in Idaho.  And, small businesses create about 80% of jobs. It is small business that grows wealth not the government. Government can not tax Idaho into prosperity. Solid conservatives would like to see Mark elected to help push business friendly tax policy and free-market regulations.

IDAHO VALUES
"I’m not a politician I am a husband, father, and businessman with employees. I’m the guy next to you at the light in a pick up truck. I’m the guy down the street who is out working in the front yard with his wife and daughters. I’m a citizen of Idaho who is lucky enough to have pursued the American dream." Mark wants to preserve that dream for anyone who is willing to work for it. If elected he will work hard fighting for families. He does not answer to special interests; he has promised no interest or group anything. But Mark promises his fellow Idahoans that he will be their eyes and ears with their best interest at heart.

MILITARY FAMILY
During the Great Depression Patterson's father had to drop out of high school and take a job to support his family. Because of a lack of high school education Mark's father was not accepted into the US Air Corps.
 But, he became a fighter pilot and flew with the RAF in WW2 in the battle of Britain.  He trained American fighter pilots in Oklahoma. He owned two airplanes and had almost 3,000 hours in his own planes. After the war Mark's father continued to fly; he was promoted to officer and command pilot.  He did 26 years in the Air Force and retired as a Major.  Mark was in the Civil Air Patrol as a kid, but he was unable to serve because of his hearing loss. Mark lost 70% of his hearing when he was 4 years old, because his eardrums were burst by
tonsillitis.

FAMILY AND HEALTHCARE
Patterson's mother, Mary Martin-Patterson, invented a machine that prepared skin for grafting.  She was the first medical expert to use this machine for burn patients.  She worked with the Shriners to establish the burn institute.  She was the first woman to be nominated both as an officer and president of the national plastic surgeon's organization.

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN
Mark Patterson's background is in science and technology.  Mark worked in oil, gas and geothermal exploration for 17 years.  Using his background, Patterson designed a premium specialty lubrication product
line for international distribution. He invented each product from the ground up.  He launched the brand, Rock N’ Roll Lubrication, and the company is now a household name. Rock N' Roll is a world leader in the bicycle industry and is now being marketed to the motorcycle and firearms industries. Rock N’ Roll Lubrication has been going on for 18 years and has 5 employees.  The products are all manufactured, packaged and shipped in District 15 in Boise.

IN THE BEGINNING WERE BICYCLES
Rock N’ Roll Lubrication was a labor of love for Patterson.  He got the idea for his business, when he was a professional cyclist.  Patterson also owned San Diego Surfboards; surfing was great cross-training for bicycle racing.  He also loves mountain biking, because it is a way to enjoy the great outdoors. His wife, Andrea was a three-time state champion in cross-country mountain biking.  Today Mark and Andrea have two daughters, Ruth Anne and Elizabeth Mae, who are eight and five years old. All four of them are known to take off on three day weekends to the mountains in Idaho in their travel trailer.  They love to mountain bike and canoe.  Mark is also a Harley Davidson motorcycle aficionado.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
His love for bicycles and motorcycles was the source of his next concept: Two Wheels for Toys.  Patterson started Two Wheels for Toys together with another business owner in Boise. This is where cyclists and bikers leave from two different locations in Boise and meet at the same place to bring toys to the Salvation Army. Two Wheels is for the kids.  But, the cyclists and motorcycle riders get the pleasure of making sure that children who need a toy at Christmas get one.

GOVERNMENT AND MANUFACTURING
Mark is well-versed in building businesses, local manufacturing and is knowledgeable about exporting internationally.  Government is one of the huge roadblocks for business success, and many manufacturers fail
because of high taxation and over-regulation by government. Mark can bring to the table a lot of insight from small business.  With his insight Idaho’s legislature will be better informed about what manufacturing businesses need to be successful and grow, providing more jobs.