meet dakota bates

Born to a small business owner and a hard working stay-at-home mom, I learned at a young age that life worked best when it included effort, perseverance, and faith. The oldest of five I grew up watching my parents struggle to pay the bills while attending Idaho State University, watching them experience the daily weight of caring for a disabled child, and then watching them manage their grief while burying her at the age of five. I am inspired by the dedication and long, hard hours spent by my dad who slowly built a thriving physical therapy practice and the patience of my mother who managed all of the household through those years. Seeing firsthand the effort it took to succeed and how absolutely vital it was at times that my family received government assistance has taught me the importance of the combined values of conservatism and compassion in government policy.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been able to attend Washington Elementary, Franklin Junior High, and Century High School where I graduated in 2008. I am also a graduate of Idaho State University with a degree in Political Science. Not one for the spotlight, my dream was to work behind the scenes as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. However, after a summer internship with Senator Jim Risch, my wife and I decided that we would prefer to raise our family in Pocatello. We have four beautiful children who are the joy (and sometimes the test) of our lives. I currently operate a children’s therapy clinic in Chubbuck called Hannah’s Place where we offer Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy for developmentally delayed children.