Three months before the May 15 primary, Democrats finally have an announced a candidate for superintendent of public instruction.

Allen Humble of Boise filed his preliminary campaign paperwork Tuesday.

Humble, a retiree who worked in hospital management, said he would like to see the state look at comprehensive changes in its education system. In an interview Friday, he floated the idea of switching to a year-round school calendar, compressing high school by dropping senior year, and shifting the savings into pre-K.

Humble said the state superintendent can drive the discussion by writing up what he called an “idealized education budget.” He said the superintendent should advocate more forcefully for the needs of the school system — such as significant increases in teacher pay. “We’re still playing catchup on compensation,” he said.

Humble’s campaign is something of a family affair. His wife, Jill, has filed paperwork to run for secretary of state on the Democratic ticket. She ran as an independent for governor in 2014, receiving 2 percent of the vote.

Two Republicans are in the race for state superintendent: incumbent Sherri Ybarra and Wilder school Superintendent Jeff Dillon.

While candidates can file preliminary paperwork — naming a campaign treasurer is a precursor to fundraising — the actual filing period begins Monday and runs through March 9.

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