On October 3, a debate was held between between four Idaho gubernatorial candidates: the Republican incumbent Butch Otter; the Democratic nominee A. J. Balukoff; the Libertarian nominee John T. Bujak; and an independent candidate whose legal name is Pro-Life (he changed his name about a decade ago and has run for office several times since then under his new name). See this story.
It is not known why two other gubernatorial candidates who are on the ballot did not participate in the debate. They are Constitution Party nominee Steve Pankey, and independent candidate Jill Humble.
Everybody talks about low student spending for schools, but DC spends the most per student, yet DC has the worst schools. Would you send your students to DC. There is more to education then just money.
Were the Constitutionalist nominee and the Independent candidate invited?
I am “pro-life” and not ashamed of the stand. But this man who has legally changed his name to Pro Life probably does the cause more harm with these name change antics than he does the cause any good.
And as a former educator myself, I agree that money spent toward education does not always produce good students. I’m not against aid to education – even federal aid to education – but unless the student wants to learn, I don’t care if you spend $100,000 for each student, no amount of money is going to produce anything.
It is the student – not the amount of money spent on the student – is the problem.
According to this article, the sponsor of the debate, the Coeur Group, invited all six candidates, but one declined, apparently due to a timing conflict, and one was not heard back.
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2014/sep/29/four-candidates-governor-debate-friday-coeur-dalene/
Governor Otter apparently insisted that all candidates be invited. When he did so for the Republican primary last spring, the results were … um … interesting.
In the latest debate the candidates were asked whether they supported the Broncos (Boise State) or Vandals (University of States).
One candidate said that they were ecumenical in his family; one said “Vandals:; Otter said, “Yotes” (College of Idaho, where he graduated from), and Mr. Pro-Life, said neither, they are both socialist institutions.
I have to commend Governor Otter for wanting all candidates to participate in the election. But,was this an honest position on the part of the governor, or did he know the more exposure given to his opponents, the more his opposition vote would be divided at the General Election?
Again, Mr. Pro-Life only gives the true Pro Life Movement a bad name. I am Pro Life but do not believe that government programs are “socialist” or “communist.”