Candidates love to promise voters a break from the tired old government as usual.

This kind of well-worn rhetoric has no place in the College of Western Idaho elections. Unpaid and elected trustees will help start up a college opening in 2009, so they have no status quo to fall back on - or to criticize.

We endorse M.C. Niland, an appointed trustee seeking re-election, and Bruce Wong and Jim Rice for two open trustee seats.

BRUCE WONG

A startup college needs strategic thinkers - and leaders with an infectious enthusiasm. Wong, of Boise, combines both qualities. He is a former Pentagon staffer and a retired Mountain Home Air Force Base colonel. Moving professional-technical classes from Boise State University to the CWI campus isn't exactly a military operation - but it is a logistical challenge, and Wong's background is a plus.

We also like Wong's commitment to holding the line on property taxes for CWI, and his commitment to an open operation. He says his military experience taught him a valuable lesson: The coverup is always worse than the original problem. A good philosophy.

Wong also is genuinely excited about CWI and its possibilities. And that's a plus. As CWI sells itself to students, to business partners and to would-be donors, the school needs advocates with energy. Wong fits the description.

JIM RICE

During an economic downturn, more people will probably look to CWI to learn new job skills, and Rice recognizes this.

We also think Rice has a realistic view of what CWI should do during a startup - a process complicated by the downturn. Job one, he says, should be absorbing the classes from BSU's Selland College of Applied Technology, a large undertaking with a July 2009 deadline. He says, rightly, that CWI must dedicate adequate space for the Selland programs, so quality and enrollment will not be affected.

He also advocates patience during the startup, and focusing on private donations to finance new programs. This is a sound strategy, especially when many taxpayers are struggling through a rough economy.

A Caldwell attorney, Rice also ensures some regional balance on the board. In May 2007, 38 percent of Canyon County voters opposed creating a new community college. In Caldwell, some local leaders have openly courted the Ontario-based Treasure Valley Community College, which is expanding its Canyon County offerings. As CWI builds, trustees are going to need to be cognizant of the community's concerns.

M.C. NILAND

It's hard to overstate Niland's role in CWI's origins. In February 2007, when the Nampa Chamber of Commerce began circulating petitions to seek a community college vote, Niland was the chamber's board chairwoman. She also co-chaired Community College Yes, the group that pushed the successful community college election.

And last summer, when five CWI trustees were appointed, Niland was one of them.

Niland has a proven commitment to this community college, and she has strong ties to the business community that stands to benefit from CWI's success. She's an obvious choice to help lead CWI.

"Our View" is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman's editorial board. To comment on an editorial or suggest a topic, e-mail editorial@idahostatesman.com.