COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho Democrats should be reeling in support from women, youth, minorities and proponents of better education, argues Sally Boynton Brown, executive director of the Idaho Democrat Party.

But that's not quite happening yet.

"One of the things we're really focused on is the idea that Democrats can take a break in our state. Because we really can't take a break," said Brown on Friday, when she spoke to the Kootenai County Democrats at the Iron Horse Bar and Grill.

Updating the gaggle of liberals on the state party's agenda, Brown encouraged all to promote the common ground the party shares with myriad groups.

By emphasizing that Democrats prioritize improving education in Idaho, she said, they might convince voters to set aside other differences and focus on making progress.

"I believe with the prevalence of the education issue, we have an issue we can message around," Brown contended. "This is a Democrat issue. It's always been our issue. We are the people who are passionate about a public education system that works for our whole, entire state."

Many county Democrats agreed they want to see changes in approach to education in the state.

"The education decline, I would argue, is catastrophically bad," said attorney Norm Gissel.

Anne Nesse, former state legislature candidate, questioned the push for more options like private and charter schools.

Those alternatives separate students into small, insular groups, Nesse argued.

"It is important to have one really good system, instead of 50 that might not be quite as good," she said.

Brown also urged party members to better communicate what the party stands for.

She emphasized the "Three E" issues of education, economy and ethics.

"As they see we really do agree on the big issues, even though there might be some wedge issues we don't agree on, slowly but surely as we have more of those interactions, we'll start to gain more Democrats in our state," she said.

The state party just created a Latino caucus to reach out to Hispanic voters, she added.

"In many of our areas, Latinos are growing by leaps and bounds," she said. "We have a wonderful opportunity. Their issues line up with Democrat issues, so they're more inclined to vote Democrat."

Still a challenge, she said, is engaging younger Democrats.

Whatever the party does, she cautioned, don't just invite them to meetings.

"You better have something for them to do. They want to take action. They want to make something happen," she said. "They don't want to be precinct committeemen. They don't want to be chair. The bureaucracy turns young people off."

Cheryl Stransky, who also ran for state legislature, emphasized the need to pursue more social media communication to reach younger party members.

"We've got to get messages out on Facebook, and our website has to be current and interesting and fact-based," she said. "The young voters have kids, and they are concerned about the quality of education and low wages in Idaho. They aren't going to come to these meetings, but they are on Facebook."

No matter what, Brown emphasized, Democrats shouldn't give up because they're outnumbered in Idaho.

That doesn't always have to be the case, she said.

"We're not donkeys for nothing," she said. "We're stubborn, tough and we'll keep at it."