PRIEST RIVER — A gathering place in the form of a hangar at Priest River Municipal Airport created the perfect analogy for Sherri Ybarra, Idaho superintendent of public instruction, and the state's five-year plan for education.

"We have to be very forward thinking as Republicans and have a vision," Ybarra said. "And the runway when you take off is in front of us, not behind us. We were very forward thinking; we made changes to education and we want to keep that five-year plan in place."

Ybarra was one of several state candidates and incumbents to visit Priest River on Friday as the GOP bus tour made its way through the area. The warm fall day and informal setting at the airport resulted in a casual atmosphere for community members to mingle with the candidates, complete with barbecue and beer. Much of the time was reserved for one-on-one conversation as the group was on a tight schedule, though each took a minute to speak briefly to the crowd. 

Since she was elected four years ago, Ybarra said the state has gotten $100 million for education each year, and in the process saved taxpayers $6 million per year. Math and reading scores are up, she said, and graduation rates are on the rise. Idaho students scored above the national average on the recent ACT and SAT exams, which catapulted Idaho to number five in the nation for being college and career ready, Ybarra said. In answer to a question regarding the common core, Ybarra said the state is doing away with the standards under her leadership.

"That was not adopted by me, but I inherited it and we are making those changes," Ybarra said. "We did put cursive writing back in and we are continuing to make those changes. We have a long way to go, but at least we are starting the process." 

Lt. Gov. Brad Little, who is vying for the governor's seat, said he and his family are farmers and ranchers in the Emmett area with grandkids who are attending public school in Idaho. One thing Little said he and his wife are "very happy" about is that their kids came back to Idaho.

"There are a lot of decisions to go across the governor’s desk, and I have been very fortunate to see the scope and the breadth and the width of those decisions," Little said. "I will make one promise to you. Every one of those decisions that come across my desk, I’ll do my best to make that decision so that your kids, yourselves and your grandkids will have the best opportunity to thrive here in Idaho."

Janice McGeachin, who is looking to take over Little's seat as lieutenant governor, said those who live in Idaho are fortunate to call the state home, as it is built on "traditional values and solid conservative principles." Her goal, she said, is to "keep Idaho conservative."

"Idaho is at a crossroads," McGeachin said. "... This election, we will either choose to hold on to our traditional values, or we will get lost traveling down the progressive path. So whether you have always called Idaho home, or are one of our newest Idahoans, please, we need your help to keep Idaho conservative."

As the current secretary of state, with hopes of remaining in the position, Lawerence Denney said he serves as the chief elections official. He used his time to encourage people to vote, and to get others to get out and vote as well.

"I can tell you that elections have consequences," Denney said. "… A republic is a participatory sport and we have to get out and we have to vote, and we have to get like-minded people out to vote as well … I want you to not only vote, but I want you to call your friends and neighbors and get our like-minded conservatives out to the polls so that we can have a landslide here in Idaho."

Julie Ellsworth, candidate for state treasurer, and incumbent state controller Brandon Woolf are both running unopposed in the election. Like Denney, the two candidates also encouraged attendees to make sure others turn out to vote as well, whether on Election Day or absentee. Woolf said as of Friday morning, 79,000 absentee ballots had been requested statewide, and about 40,000 had not yet been returned.

"So here is our opportunity to make sure our neighbors, friends, everyone returns their ballots," Woolf said. "Let's keep our strong Idaho values that we love and respect."

"We are at the point where you impact whose names are on those absentee ballots and who is voting at the poll," added Ellsworth. "... And you know what, most of those names are in your cellphone, in your contacts. Please call them."

Incumbent Attorney General Lawrence Wasden explained to the crowd that his job is not to make policy, as the legislators do. His job is the law, he said, and sometimes he has to tell people things they don't want to hear. He pointed to a time when joined together with a variety of Republican AGs to sue the federal government during a prior presidential administration, when a former president used a memorandum to change federal law. In speaking with some people afterward in a constitutional law class, he read the article in the Constitution that states federal immigration law is to be made by Congress. One woman was not happy about it, he said.

"She said, 'We are lawyers and believe in that rule of law, but that just doesn’t make me feel good,'" Wasden said. "And I said to her, ''We don’t live by the rule of feel good, we live by the rule of law.' That’s what I have done and that’s what I will continue to do."

Russ Fulcher, who is seeking the District 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and plans to head to Washington, D.C., gestured toward the mountains and trees surrounding the airport and asked, "What in the world is going on in my head to leave that?"

"The reasons are many, but the bottom line is this state is my home and it's been my family's home for over 100 years," Fulcher said.

Fulcher said the Democrats of today are not the "Democrats of our parents and grandparents." Fulcher said he is confident that Idaho will maintain a Republican majority, though he is not so sure about Washington, D.C.

"f successful, I’m going to do the very best that I can, and use any influence that I have, to push decisions where they belong," Fulcher said. "And that’s right here. That’s with the people you’ve already heard from, because that’s the way it was set up, that’s the way it’s supposed to be, it’s closer to the people, and that will be my honest endeavor on your behalf."

Also in attendance at the Priest River event was Rep. Heather Scott, who served as the master of ceremonies for the event, as well as Rep. Sage Dixon, both of whom are running for re-election. Sen. Mary Souza from Coeur d’Alene was in attendance as well, as were Jim Woodward, Republican nominee to replace Sen. Shawn Keough, avnd several area precinct committeemen.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.