POCATELLO — Former state Sen. Bert Marley opted to announce his intention to run for the office of lieutenant governor during the monthly Bannock County Democrats Political Soup Wednesday. Marley said concern about the direction the state is headed led him to join the race.

    “We’re more concerned now what looks good politically than we are about what is good for the people of Idaho,” Marley said about the current state leadership.

    Marley won the endorsement of Democratic gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff and both candidates said they would be running a complementary campaign with a focus on reinvesting in education and establishing state leadership that operates with accountability and transparency.

    “We can turn state government around,” Marley said. “But that turnaround has to start at the top — leadership that will put the needs of hardworking families and the middle class first, instead of rewarding good political connections.”

    Marley is from McCammon and owns a small, third-generation farm. He taught at Marsh Valley High School for 23 years, served in the Legislature from 1998 to 2001, and then in the Idaho Senate from 2001 to 2006. As a senator, Marley served on key committees, including education, agriculture and JFAC.

    “I’m excited and I will work with (Balukoff) to accomplish his goals,” Marley said Wednesday. “(Balukoff) brings a new dimension to the campaign. He gets things done.”

    Balukoff has lived in Boise for the past 31 years. He said he and his wife, Susie Balukoff, chose the city because they believed it was the best place in the nation to raise their eight children. Balukoff  served as trustee for the Boise School District for more than half that time.

    “He is the perfect person to be governor,” Marley said. “I have known (Balukoff) as a business leader and a community leader and I have the deepest respect and admiration for him and I am proud to call him my friend.”

    Balukoff announced his bid for the governor’s office in Boise in December.

    A CPA by profession, Balukoff started his first accounting firm in his home. The home-based business grew quickly and created hundreds of Idaho jobs. Balukoff said his campaign will focus on restoring education.

    “(Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter) has proposed a $71 million rainy day fund and another $30 million tax relief fund,” Balukoff said. “That’s money that could be used to support education in the state.”

    School districts statewide are scrambling to administer the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium under the Common Core standard, which was implemented this year. The new testing system will replace ISATs.

    “I don’t think we need to be doing testing that we can’t fund,” Balukoff said. “We already have adequate tests, the ISATs, in place.”

    Former Idaho Representative James Ruchti supports implementation of the Common Core and said the educational system is a path to success for all states that implemented it, but it has to be adequately funded.

    “It’s a huge issue, we can’t pretend that money doesn’t matter,” Ruchti said. “I’m not opposed to the rainy day funds, I think we don’t have to fill it to the top at once. We could continue to build the funds without neglecting education.”

    Balukoff served as a board member for St. Luke’s and he said the state of Idaho spends about $80 million each year caring for uninsured residents. The passage of Medicaid expansion, which law makers squashed last month, would not only have saved property taxpayers in the state more than $400 million, it would provide federal dollars to recoup some the cost of caring for the uninsured.

    “There is nothing wrong with taking advantages of resources that are available,” Balukoff said.     

    Former Legislator Dianne Bilyeu said she met Balukoff for the first time Wednesday and was impressed with his campaign.

    “You can say that education is a priority, but if you believe it, you have to fund it,” Bilyeu said. “Gov. Otter has not done that.”

    Organizer Amy Manning said the Bannock County Democrats Political Soup events are held monthly. The next event is schedule March 12 at the Labor Temple at 456 North Arthur with guest speaker Holli Woodings, candidate for Secretary of State.

    Balukoff and Marley will be touring the state in the upcoming weeks listening to residents and sharing their vision for Idaho.