Kathleen Eder, running for District 26A, is my choice for my former seat in the Idaho State Legislature. She is an amazing leader who will be an effective advocate for improving education in Idaho. We all know that Idaho ranks number 49 among all states on many criteria evaluating student education.
It is a tough race, however, because Eder is challenging incumbent Steve Miller (Fairfield, not the rock star) who inaccurately takes credit in his campaign literature for leading Statehouse efforts to provide adequate funding for Idaho students. Education funding legislation is in fact a result of Governor Otter’s bipartisan task force on education funding which followed the defeat of the former Superintendent Luna laws. The Legislature added enough money to bring funding back to 2009 levels, but this is 2016! We have 18,0000 more students in the system.
Miller had a chance to vote on a bill to address the needs of these additional students and help the 10 school districts he represents, but he wouldn’t break with party leadership, so that bill failed in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on which he sits.
The only way Idaho becomes more competitive in attracting businesses needing an educated and skilled workforce is by investing in our schools. It’s time to stop leaving Idaho children behind. Let’s elect legislators who will really do something.
Please vote for Kathleen Eder for Legislative District 26A. She knows how important this issue is and won’t be told by anyone how she should vote!
Wendy Jaquet
Blaine County resident and retired District 26A Representative (1994 – 2012)