HARLINGEN, RGV - The co-founder of IDEA Public Schools says just like competition is good for business, it is good for the parents of students also.Tom Torkelson spoke about the need for competition at a groundbreaking ceremony for IDEA’s first school in Harlingen. The nonprofit charter is now the largest of its kind in the nation. “People are asking us, why are we we opening up a school in Harlingen. Two reasons, one our San Benito School, three miles that way, has over a thousand students on the waiting list. We have got to open up a new school to alleviate that waiting list,” Torkelson said. “The second thing is… competition makes us better.”He went to on to give examples of how competition in the Rio Grande Valley is healthy.“I am sure Valley Baptist wishes they were still the only hospital here in the Harlingen area but now there are several. I am sure all you elected officials wish that every single year you got to run unopposed but competition keeps us honest and makes us better,” Torkelson said.“I am sure that those of you who own a business or a car dealership wish that you had a total monopoly on your community. But, the reality is consumers and citizens and residents win when there is competition.”Other speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included state Sen. Eddie Lucio and Harlingen City Commissioner Mike Mezmar. Jill Dominguez, regional superintendent for IDEA in the Valley, emceed the event. The above podcast has the entire raw audio from the IDEA Harlingen groundbreaking ceremony.Editor’s Note: To read a full report on the groundbreaking ceremony for IDEA Harlingen, click here. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

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