Former attorney general and Lt. Gov. Dave Leroy has thrown his support behind fellow Republican Sherri Ybarra in the Nov. 6 election.

“I have worked with and studied closely the actions and achievements of the last seven Idaho superintendents of public instruction,” the Boise attorney said in a statement released Thursday by the Ybarra campaign. “I regard Sherri Ybarra as one of the best.”

Leroy praised Ybarra for emphasizing local control, creating a parent advisory council and launching an anti-bullying initiative. He hailed Ybarra’s school safety initiative, even though the proposal has not yet come before the Legislature. He also praised Ybarra for overseeing “continuing improvement” in student test scores — even though recent trends are mixed.

The Leroy endorsement comes days after another former attorney general endorsed Ybarra’s opponent. Jim Jones, a longtime Republican who most recently filled a nonpartisan post on the Idaho Supreme Court, backed Democrat Cindy Wilson Tuesday.