Trib: Souza attacks local control

State Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, isn’t fooling Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase with her end-around attempt to turn school board elections into a partisan event. In recent Coeur d’Alene School Board elections, Souza’s GOP allies have been thwarted in their attempts to re-stack the Coeur d’Alene School Board with uber-conservative partisans. Coeur d’Alene has gotten wise to such attempts. Now, Souza wants to move school board elections from May in off-years to general election times in even years, to ensure that the Republican label that uber-cons embrace in non-partisan races will play with a broader range of voters. Here’s what the Tribune says about Souza attempt:

If Sens. Jim Rice, R-Caldwell, and Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, have their way, Idaho’s unpaid and non-partisan school board trustees will no longer face their own constituents in the traditional venue - elections held in May of odd-numbered years. Instead, the Rice-Souza bill will require school board members to appear on the same ballot as the Republican and Democratic candidates for president, Congress, governor and the Legislature. Full Lewiston Tribune editorial here.

Question: Doesn’t Mary Souza believe that the government closest to the people governs best?