BOISE The only announced candidate for governor says Idaho Republicans must change their image and become champions of education.
''Republicans have taken the short end of the stick in the last few years as far as the public image is concerned about their stance on education,'' said Chuck Winder, a former Ada County Highway District commissioner.
Winder spoke during a Friday taping of KTVB's ''Viewpoint.''
The GOP ''always look like they're behind the eight ball on whether they add $5 million or take it away or whatever. That's created some problems.''
Winder said he would appoint a task force to spend two years studying education and other state services.
He suggested consolidation of school districts as one solution, but said, ''It doesn't necessarily need more money. As you talk to people around the state, the biggest fear they have is that we'll just throw money at education and that we won't develop an educational system that will really develop a quality student.''
Winder also suggests a two-year, 5 percent cap on property tax hikes and a freeze on state hiring and taxes. He supports more wilderness in Idaho, but would not say how much more.
''You can't just go lock everything up and think that our economy's going to survive, (but) there are some good areas that should qualify for wilderness.''
Winder was misinformed when asked about a proposed grazing fee increase on public lands. The Clinton administration suggests fees rise from $1.86 per animal unit month to $4.28 per AUM. That's the amount of grazing to feed a cow and calf for a month.
''That's too big an increase at one time,'' Winder said. ''Perhaps they could have stepped it up over a period of time...''
The increase is proposed to be phased in over three years.
Winder admits he needs to learn about a statewide race after being elected five times in Ada County.