POST FALLS - Improving education is A.J. Balukoff's top priority, and the Democrat candidate for governor believes he has the background to help Idaho do it.

The Boise businessman, who has 16 years of experience on the Boise School Board, spoke to 20 Democrats during a meet-and-greet event at the Post Falls Library Tuesday night.

"Education is important to me," said Balukoff, who said he's the first of his grandfather's descendants to earn a college degree.

Balukoff said the state has invested poorly in education and that has translated into low student test scores.

The part-owner of the Grove Hotel, CenturyLink Arena and Idaho Steelheads hockey team in Boise said he also believes there needs to be more emphasis on early childhood education.

"We don't need a study; we ought to be doing it," he said. "But, if it takes our own study, let's get it done because we do need early education."

Hayden's Richard Kohles was pleased to learn about Balukoff's school board experience.

"You must understand how to build a consensus," Kohles said to Balukoff. "That seems to me to be a huge asset."

Balukoff has been an Idaho resident for 31 years. He received an accounting degree from Brigham Young University and started an accounting firm in his basement. The company moved to downtown Boise and became the largest locally-owned accounting firm in that city.

Balukoff later owned three athletic clubs and sold the accounting firm to his partners.

"I believe in hard work, integrity and treating people fairly," he said.

When asked if he would support raising Idaho's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, Balukoff left the answer loose.

"We should set the minimum wage at whatever we think it should be and index it to inflation," he said. "The real answer to the minimum wage is education. We need education and job training. I don't think that jobs that pay minimum wage should be career aspirations."

On Obamacare, Balukoff said it's not perfect, but it would also be "short-sighted" to call for a repeal. Amending the system would be his preference, he said.

Balukoff said that, if he's going to be elected, he and fellow Democrats will have to earn the support of other groups.

"We have to appeal to more than just Democrats, but also the moderates and Independents," he said. "If we don't, we won't win the election."

Balukoff also touted his experience of serving with several nonprofits, including on boards for ballet, symphony and opera groups, the public library and St. Luke's Hospital.

Larry Kenck, a Post Falls resident and chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party, said he has confidence in Balukoff.

"His positions and stances on education from pre-K and higher education are insights that we desperately need from our governor," Kenck said. "He knows what hardships many of the families in Idaho face and he not only talks about the problems, but he is hands-on when working on the problems to find solutions."