If you met Don Brandt, you'd never suspect via the beater cars he'd drive or the clothes he wore or the house he lived in, that this frugal, humble man was one of southwest Idaho's most philanthropic figures.
Don was 87 when he passed away on July 18th. He will be remembered at IFF for his unwavering support of our organization from its earliest days. Don gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and real estate over more than 15 years.
I mention this only because Don openly spoke of his support for IFF, as he did for numerous charities and causes. In fact, he often insisted we mention his name.
Don and I shared countless meals and tons of conversations where he freely gave advice and insight and asked questions regarding Idaho's political trajectory.
He gave me grapes from his garden. He even shared his philosophy on cars: never spend more than $10,000 on one (up from $5,000 not so long ago).
Even as his health deteriorated and his voice softened, Don always made time to carry on the conversations. He provided me with valuable historical context drawn from his decades of political involvement.
Don told me how decades ago, as part of the local chamber of commerce, he would fight tax increases and big government. But today, he lamented, those same business groups are often big promoters of higher taxes and new programs.
He noted how the government education system is producing a much less erudite (his word) populace. He pointed out how the schools have taken on the duties of parents in supplying meals to kids, noting how his mother and other moms would prepare lunches for their school-age kids.
Don told me he loved IFF's work to expose government waste, reform urban renewal laws, cut taxes, promote government transparency, fight labor unions, and take on leftism and wokeism in the public sector.
As recently as this year, Don remained hopeful that Idaho would one day make universal education choice a reality, and in my last call to him in May, I told him things were looking up to get that done in 2025.
In 2012, the Idaho Freedom Foundation presented Don Brandt with its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is rarely given and only to those who unflinchingly defend conservative values. That was Don up until the day he died.
We are forever grateful to him for his support, and we honor his legacy in the best way we know: by fighting on.
A public remembrance for Don is being planned for September.
