The Idaho Democratic Party announced today that its central committee has elected Larry Grant as it new state party chairman. Grant, a former congressional candidate and former vice president and general counsel for Micron Technology, is from Payette. Click below for the Democrats' full announcement.

Idaho Democratic Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 2, 2011

LARRY GRANT ELECTED CHAIR OF THE IDAHO STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Boise, Idaho - On Saturday, February 26, 2011, the Central Committee of the Idaho Democratic Party elected Larry Grant as State Chair.  Grant, a resident of Payette County and long-time Democratic activist, will serve a two-year term.   Re-elected were Jeanne Buell of Worley as Vice Chair and Susan Eastlake of Boise as Treasurer. Carolyn Boyce and Pete Gertonson were elected National Committeewoman and Committeeman.

In his acceptance address Grant said, “I am looking forward to leading the Democratic Party in Idaho.  Our job as the minority party is to hold the majority party accountable.  The Republican agenda is not hard to figure out.  They want tax cuts for the wealthy, wage cuts for everyone else, and God help you if you can’t pay your medical bills.”

A former Vice President and General Counsel of Micron Technology, Inc., Grant ran for Congress in Idaho's 1st Congressional District in 2006 in a tight race with Bill Sali.  Larry and his wife Pam now live in Fruitland where they both grew up and went to school.

When asked about the current budget problems facing Idaho, Grant said, “Republicans have been in charge for a long time. They no longer have credibility when it comes to fiscal matters.  Last year they made all part-time Idaho State workers pay more for their health insurance, except themselves.  Legislators extra premiums will cost the state over $300,000 a year.  It looks like the Republican Majority wants everyone to pay the cost of these poor decisions except themselves.

Grant further stated, “Look at what they are trying to do to our kids. I don’t know how anyone can actually stand up and say increased class sizes are good for our kids.  We should be investing in our children’s future not robbing them of it.  After all, the legislature gave Superintendent Luna and Governor Otter an automatic pay raise for the next three years.  None of our teachers have that kind of guarantee.”

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