Karl was born in Lewiston, Idaho and raised in Grangeville; Elk City; Latah, Washington and Plummer, Idaho. Upon graduation from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, he embarked on a career in sales, marketing and management and has lived in Idaho, Alaska, Florida, Washington and Illinois. His previous employers have ranged from publicly-held Fortune 50 companies such as Caterpillar Incorporated to small, private entrepreneurial companies with fewer than five employees.

He was able to fulfill his life-long goal of having a job and living in Bonner County when he joined Litehouse Incorporated as a sales and marketing manager in 2002. After working hard to get to Bonner County, Karl was surprised to see it changing so rapidly. To have a voice in managing this change and shape it into something positive for our community, Karl ran for and was elected to a Bonner County Commissioner Seat in 2004.

While in office, he finished the county’s comprehensive land use plan, gave county employees living wage increases, lobbied the state for property tax reform, funded water quality improvement projects on Priest and Pend Oreille Lakes and kicked off the affordable housing needs assessment. In a non-presidential primary election cycle that saw 75% of all incumbent county commissioners with contested races in Idaho defeated, Karl was also defeated.

He lives east of Sandpoint with his wife Tiffany. They are the proud parents of Hattie Jane and Henry.