Democratic Candidate James Mace Praises Republican Party's New-Found Position On Openness Regarding “Students Come First”

... And Poses Questions for Them

In an Aug. 24 press release, Idaho GOP Chairman Barry Peterson criticized the opponents of the new “Students Come First” program for an ad that Peterson says “intentionally misleads” Idahoans by stating that the laptops are an “unfunded mandate.” James Mace, Democratic candidate for Senate in District 20 who is running against Chuck Winder, who supported all 3 bills, praised the GOP chairman's stance on openness about the bills:

“I'm glad to hear that the Idaho Republican Party believes voters should know the truth about the bills. As a taxpayer and voter, I thought that not proposing the bills until AFTER Luna's 2010 re-election wasn't exactly 'open' with voters, so I'm glad to see their position has changed. I, for one, would like to know if the proposal to outsource much of Idaho education to an out-of-state on-line company came from Idaho or from ALEC? And did it come before or after the $44,000 campaign donation to Luna's re-election bid from an on-line education company? I think a lot of us have some questions, and since they weren't answered before the LAST election, I'm delighted that they seem prepared to answer them during THIS one.”

A former Air Force communications specialist, Mace is now an author, small business owner, and has been a member of the Idaho Army National Guard for the last fifteen years. He served with the 116th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq and now volunteers with several veterans' charities as well as Make a Wish. This is his first bid for political office.

For more info see James Mace for D20 Senate on Facebook.