Some social media soul-searching

Former state Rep. Steve Smylie hasn’t closed the door on running again for state schools superintendent.

And this week, he asked his 367 Facebook friends for some counsel.

Steve Smylie
Steve Smylie

“Here is a quick survey,” Smylie wrote on Monday, after incumbent Tom Luna said he would not seek a third term in office. “As most of you know, I had decided to step out of the political arena. With the state superintendent job now vacant, should I reconsider? Yes or no? Keep in mind, such a quest would require support ($100,000 plus 200,000 votes), since I won’t go on such a ‘crusade’ armed only with a donkey, my friend, Sancho, and windmills to tilt at.

“Your opinion?????”

Smylie is getting some words of encouragement from his friends. Among others, prominent Statehouse lobbyist Roy Eiguren, Ada County Highway District Commissioner Rebecca Arnold and former Larry Craig aide Jeff Schrade urged Smylie to take a look at the race.

Smylie ran for superintendent in 2006, narrowly losing to Luna in the GOP primary. The margin: 893 votes out of 129,987 votes cast.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]

Get EdNews in your inbox

Weekly round up every Friday