Charles Coiner
Encyclopedia
Charles H. Coiner is a Republican
former Idaho State Senator
, who represented the 24th Legislative District from 2004 to 2010.
Born in Twin Falls, Idaho
, Coiner grew up just 15 miles from the Minidoka Relocation Center, where 9,000 Japanese American
s were placed in internment camps by order of Democrat
President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
s Executive Order 9066
. After earning his high school diploma
from Hansen High School
in 1961, Coiner earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree in Architecture
from Stanford University
in 1965.
Coiner began operating his family farm in 1974. He later became Chairman of the Twin Falls Canal Company and
President of Milner Dam
. He also served as Chair of the Upper Snake River
Basin Advisory Group, on the Twin Falls City Water Planning Committee, and as a member of the Southeast Twin Falls Transportation Corridor Study.
First elected to the Idaho Senate
in 2004, Coiner served as Vice-Chair of the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee during his entire tenure in the Senate. He also served on the Senate Committees on Health and Welfare, on Resources and Environment, and on Agricultural Affairs. He was also a member of the Senate Natural Resources Interim Committee, Senate Mental Health and Substance Abuse Interim Committee, Council of State Governments
River Governance Group, and Pacific Northwest Economic Region
.
While a Senator, Coiner supported efforts by the Friends of Minidoka nonprofit organization
to incorporate the Japanese-American internment during World War II
into the history curriculum of Idaho public schools (Coiner had grown up 15 miles from the Minidoka Relocation Center). Coiner was unopposed in his 2008 re-election.
Coiner and his wife, Carolyn, have two children: Dylan and Morgan.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
former Idaho State Senator
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
, who represented the 24th Legislative District from 2004 to 2010.
Born in Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
, Coiner grew up just 15 miles from the Minidoka Relocation Center, where 9,000 Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
s were placed in internment camps by order of Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
s Executive Order 9066
Executive Order 9066
United States Executive Order 9066 was a United States presidential executive order signed and issued during World War II by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 authorizing the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones...
. After earning his high school diploma
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
from Hansen High School
Hansen High School
Hansen High School is a high school in Hansen, Idaho. They were the 2002 state track division 1A champions.They went to 2009 state track in the 300 hurdles, and 800m. Their rivals are the Murtaugh Red Devils.Hansen high school has about 200 students 7-12. It offers athletic programs for both girls...
in 1961, Coiner earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1965.
Coiner began operating his family farm in 1974. He later became Chairman of the Twin Falls Canal Company and
President of Milner Dam
Milner Dam
Milner Dam is a rockfill dam near Burley in south central Idaho. It impounds the Snake River in a reservoir named Milner Lake. The dam spans the river across two islands, with three embankments....
. He also served as Chair of the Upper Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
Basin Advisory Group, on the Twin Falls City Water Planning Committee, and as a member of the Southeast Twin Falls Transportation Corridor Study.
First elected to the Idaho Senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
in 2004, Coiner served as Vice-Chair of the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee during his entire tenure in the Senate. He also served on the Senate Committees on Health and Welfare, on Resources and Environment, and on Agricultural Affairs. He was also a member of the Senate Natural Resources Interim Committee, Senate Mental Health and Substance Abuse Interim Committee, Council of State Governments
Council of State Governments
The Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in the United States serving the state governments. It serves state legislatures, state courts, and executive branch officials and agencies, and is the only multi-branch organization of state governments in the United...
River Governance Group, and Pacific Northwest Economic Region
Pacific Northwest Economic Region
The Pacific Northwest Economic Region includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. It is designed to improve cooperation and communication between member jurisdictions as well as improve communication between...
.
While a Senator, Coiner supported efforts by the Friends of Minidoka nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
to incorporate the Japanese-American internment during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
into the history curriculum of Idaho public schools (Coiner had grown up 15 miles from the Minidoka Relocation Center). Coiner was unopposed in his 2008 re-election.
Coiner and his wife, Carolyn, have two children: Dylan and Morgan.