While he has earned the seniority to chair other committees in the Senate, incumbent Sen. John Goedde said his top priority hasn't changed in 14 years.

It is still education, he said.

"I have chaired the Senate Education Committee now for a decade. I have served on the committee for 14 years and I had three years on the local school board before that," he said. "I had the opportunity this last year to accept the chairmanship of commerce and resources, but I chose to stay in education because of what I perceive its importance to be for the future of Idaho."

Goedde, 63, who is running against Mary Souza for the Senate seat in the 4th Legislative District, sat on the governor's task force on education reform.

"We came up with 20 recommendations, and I carried some of those through the legislative session this year," he said. "I sit on the State Board of Education's committee that is dealing with tiered licensing and career ladders, which is a major part of the unfinished recommendations of the task force."

Goedde said he believes Idaho is well positioned to move forward with meaningful education reform. As a fiscal conservative, he said he tries to give taxpayers the biggest bang for their buck and education is one place where Idaho could do better.

"So that is where I am focused for this next session," he said.

Goedde is a retired insurance agent and has been active in many community organizations, including the Wishing Star Foundation and the North Idaho Chamber of Commerce. He is a founding member and current president of Kootenai Charities. He is a member of Coeur d'Alene Sunrise Rotary, Kootenai Perspectives, co-chair of Inland Pacific Hub. He has sat as a director on the boards of Jobs Plus, Inc., and the North Idaho College Foundation. Goedde has had local involvement in Boy Scouts, Junior Miss, Jaycees, FOCUS, Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, North Idaho Alzheimer's Association and the Idaho Highway Coalition.

Goedde is married with one child and one stepson.

Here are Goedde's views on the four issues The Press asked all of the state legislative candidates to address:

Add the words

"I think the issue deserves debate. I do not support discrimination in any form. I think old fat white guys should have the same rights as anyone else. But I don't know that we need to enumerate every specific group when we start stating rights, but the basic premise that everyone deserves the same rights is important to emphasize. The process that the supporters used this last session did not do well for them. They actually denied other Idaho citizens the right to testify on bills that were important to them with their antics. They need to redirect their approach if they are going to get anything heard."

Medicaid expansion

"It's an issue that still needs to be looked at. I believe that the task force the governor impaneled two years ago that came out recommending expansion, came to the correct conclusion. The real issue is the federal government cannot continue to support expanded programs until it fixes its revenue stream. You can't continue to spend more money than you are taking in. It would be a real travesty if we expanded Medicaid now and a year or two the Feds withdrew support. We couldn't support it. That is my concern."

Minimum wage

"I have a difficult time supporting increasing minimum wage above what the federal government has prescribed. That's what a lot of states have done is adopt the federal minimum wage standards. But those people with skills have an opportunity to earn more than the minimum wage. I think providing our citizens with skills and knowledge to earn more is imperative. If we do that the minimum wage will largely resolve itself. Minimum wage at an entry level is something that allows young people to engage in employment. With a higher minimum wage they might not have an opportunity to do that. We need those entry level jobs."

Economic development

"I supported the Department of Commerce bill this year. It will be an important tool for groups like Jobs Plus moving forward. I also sit on the IGEM Council, which is the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission. We are in a position with a million dollars to support conceptual opportunities. A product we just looked at was artificial hips for canines. These are the kind of out of the box business opportunities that may be moving forward. Another opportunity at the University of Idaho is solidifying soil through microbial action. It was developed at U of I in concert with Avista to stabilize power poles. These are the kind of things that we are doing with IGEM to offer some opportunity."