Hoping to retain her seat as State Senator representing District 1 for a seventh term, Sen. Shawn Keough says she still has a lot of unfinished business to accomplish for both Bonner and Boundary counties.

For the Republican Senator from Sandpoint who serves as a senior member of the Senate Transportation Committee, that translates into miles to go before she is ready to sleep.

If Keough - who is also vice chairman of the powerful Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee - can defeat challenger Dan Heckel of Laclede in the May 27 primary, she'll run unopposed in November and win for the seventh time since she was elected in 1996.

"I feel I have provided solid representation and effective communication for constituents in our district," said Keough, who defeated Boundary County's Tim Tucker 12 years ago for the Senate seat. "My seniority and experience in the Legislature are keys to keeping our issues always in the forefront and on the table. There is still a great deal of unfinished business left for me to do."

Some of Keough's unfinished work is completing property tax reform legislation she championed two years ago that resulted in the first increase of Homeowner's Property Tax Exemption since its inception in Idaho.

She also began an evaluation of K-12 funding formulas and wants to work towards seeing the final result.

"I want to make sure transportation projects for Bonner and Boundary counties continue moving forward," said Keough, who co-chairs the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee. "In the last 12 years, the North Hill project and re-aligning Highway 95 north to the border were both completed, along with other road improvements that have made our highways safer. There is a constant battle for limited dollars because there are so many more needs than there are funds. But there are certain benefits that come from the seniority position that I have."

When she challenged Tucker in 1996, Keough said she ran because she was inspired to make a difference.

"I felt I had skills to help our area and fresh enthusiasm to find solutions and a consensus on issues," she said. "I am still driven by that and believe I have been effective in benefitting our communities."

Before she first took office, Keough said she felt Bonner and Boundary counties were not getting their fair share on transportation issues.

"Working with other legislators as well as through my own efforts, I have been able to move forward towards completing major road projects for this area," she said. "There are many bills yet I want to write and sponsor. I still have that same enthusiasm I had for this job 12 years ago because I want to get things done for north Idaho."