Ybarra raised $300 in runup to race

Mountain Home administrator Sherri Ybarra raised only $300 in the weeks leading up to her surprise win in the May 20 GOP primary for state schools superintendent.

Sherri Ybarra
Sherri Ybarra

Ybarra has filed her post-primary campaign finance report — although the document isn’t due until 30 days after the election. And the five-page report shows she prevailed in the four-way primary despite an almost nonexistent fundraising effort:

  • From May 5 through May 30, Ybarra raised only $300. One donation was notable: $250 in campaign funds from state Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, a member of the House Education Committee and a former Bonneville School District trustee.
  • From Jan. 1 through May 30, Ybarra has raised $3,150.14.
  • Ybarra comes out of the primary with only $293.87 on hand for the general election.

Ybarra badly trailed her GOP opponents — including, most notably, Melba School District Superintendent Andy Grover — in the fundraising runup to the May 20 primary. And based on the latest report, Ybarra would figure to be at a fundraising disadvantage heading into a general election matchup with Democratic nominee Jana Jones.

Jones has not yet filed her postprimary report, and reports for Grover and Republican John Eynon are also not yet available.

American Falls principal Randy Jensen has filed his postprimary report, logging only a single $15 donation after May 5. Jensen, who finished second to Ybarra on May 20, had urged supporters to contribute to local schools instead of donating to his campaign.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 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. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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