Follow the money: See who’s giving Ada County candidates the most, and who’s getting it
CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect the name of the Idaho Land Fund and the exact title of the Albertson Family Foundation’s J.B. Scott, who is founding chairman and director of that organization. In addition, the Idaho Land Fund has given money to the Idaho Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, not received money from those entities.
With primary elections just around the corner, 11 Republican candidates are vying for a seat of power in Ada County. People from across the county, state and even the country have put their dollars into the campaigns of their favorite contenders.
Tuesday was the final deadline for candidates to report campaign-finance numbers before the primary next Tuesday, May 17. Some candidates saw tens of thousands of dollars roll in, while others received hardly any money. A number of them, most notably those running for the open commissioner seat, dropped large amounts on their own campaigns.
Major community players donated to campaigns. Well-known leaders came in especially strong for sheriff candidate Matthew Clifford, who received $51,764, more than anyone else.
Major property holders donated to their favorites in what may end up being the hottest of the county races: assessor. Candidates raised $64,444, with Dave Litster leading the fundraising.
The Idaho Statesman took a look at just how much — and who — has gotten involved in Ada County campaign financing.
Assessor
Four Republicans want to fill the opening left by Bob McQuade, who is retiring from the position after 28 years. Tuesday’s winner will go on to face Democrat Laurie Barrera.
Ron DeRoest, who spent six years as deputy assessor, raised $2,660 from 13 donors, including $500 from Arizona resident Reese Collier, $300 from Meridian web analyst Kevin Gamache, and $200 from major downtown Boise developer Scott Schoenherr of Rafanelli and Nahas Management Corp.
Bradley Bolicek, real estate agent at Silvercreek Realty, raised $4,119 from 20 donors. His highest donors included $500 from commercial broker Jeffrey Hall of Northwest Commercial Advisors in Meridian, $395 from Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts, and $200 former Ada County sheriff Gary Raney.
Rebecca Arnold received $24,610 from 29 donors, $16,200 of which came from her own loan.
Her largest donors included:
- $1,000 from Don Hubble, home builder and owner of Hubble Homes
- $1,000 from Winston Moore, longtime Boise commercial real estate developer
- $1,000 from Darcy Nedigh, director of DeBest Plumbing in Boise
- $1,000 from Milford Terrell, president of DeBest Plumbing in Boise
- $1,000 from Grace Terrell, secretary of DeBest Plumbing in Boise
Dave Litster has received $33,055 from 29 donors. He loaned at least $10,000 to his campaign.
Top donors included:
- $2,000 from David Bowen, co-founder of billion-dollar Clearwater Analytics, who has been involved in public property disputes in Stanley, and wife Lynn Arnone
- $2,000 from David and Debra Huber, known for their $2.5 million donation to build Huber Field and Dona Larsen Park
- $2,000 from Brad Wiskirchen, founding CEO and senior vice president of global fraud prevention company Kount, which was purchased by Equifax for $640 million in 2021, and wife Koleen Wiskirchen.
- $2,000 from Clyde Brinegar, listed as a partner of Brinegar Investments which built the Brinegar Prairie subdivision in Meridian and has filed permits relating to a potential future Meridian subdivision called Earl Glen, and wife Kathleen Brinegar
- $1,000 from Andrew Scoggin, a former founding Albertsons executive. He “controls a real estate portfolio of multifamily, single-family and commercial properties,” according to his Boise State University biography. Scoggin also serves as the president of the Interfaith Sanctuary board of directors
- $1,000 from Kinghorn Medical LLC, owned by Jake and Melissa Kinghorn, who also co-own Kinghorn Homes
Sheriff
Clifford, who has been serving appointed interim sheriff for nearly a year following the retirement of Sheriff Stephen Bartlett, garnered significantly more donations than his competitor, Doug Traubel. Clifford took in $51,764 from 166 donors and Traubel received $16,794 from 91 donors.
Donations to Clifford with high dollar amounts or from community leaders included:
- $2,000 from a donor listed as “Bartlett For Sheriff” given in July
- $2,000 from Dan Richter, managing partner of Avimor, and wife Rebecca Richter
- $2,000 from Daniel Walker, CEO of health care group The Pennant Group, and wife Shera Walker
- $1,332 from James Chambers
- $550 from Sarah Chambers
- $1,000 from the Idaho Land Fund, which also has given funding to the Idaho Republican Party and the Republican National Committee. The organization is overseen by J.B. Scott, founding chairman and director of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation.
- $1,000 from Tommy Ahlquist, CEO of Ball Ventures Ahlquist
- $1,000 from Barber Valley Development Inc., the company that built Harris Ranch
- $1,000 from a company called Leading Idaho that has the same post office box as Meridian Mayor Robert Simison’s campaign
- $1,000 from James Clyde, owner of home building company James Clyde Homes
- $350 from Clay Carley, downtown developer and owner of Old Boise LLC
- $300 from Gary Raney, former Ada County sheriff
- $300 from the Idaho Fraternal Order Of Police
- $289 from Mark Otter, Idaho City police chief
- $227 (in-kind) from Boise Fire Fighters Local 149
- $200 from Rod Beck, Ada County District 2 commissioner
- $200 from Dawn Retzlaff, Ada County District 3 commissioner candidate
Traubel received $982 from Bowermaster Productions, a Boise video production company; and $1,000 each from Mark Andrews, Cheryl Gmirkin, L. Keith Gmirkin, Mary Lundin and Laurence Lundin.
Commissioner, District 3:
Incumbant Kendra Kenyon’s departure will leave a commissioner spot open in District 3, an area covering all of Ada County south of I-84 and outside Boise city limits, although all Ada County residents can vote in this race.
Much of the money raised by commissioner candidates came from themselves. Candidates are allowed to donate or loan their own money to their campaigns. If they raise enough money, they can later use donations to get back their loan amount.
Dawn Retzlaff, who served for 30 years in law enforcement before moving to Ada County, raised $23,160 and had significantly more donors than the other two. Sixty-two people donated to her campaign. She loaned her campaign $8,000.
Her highest campaign contributions included $1,000 each from Grant Peterson, president of Boise’s Bronco Motors; Mark Hess, executive of Washington software company Infor; and Eagle company Home Matters Property Management.
Sharon Ullman, who lost to Kenyon in 2018, raised $20,550. All but $50 came from her own pocket as a donation.
Former state representative Thomas Dayley raised $12,100. Dayley loaned his campaign $10,000 and donated $1,000. Boise Airport chairman Russ Westerberg donated $1,000.
Coroner
Two Republicans challengers hope to face off against incumbent Democrat Dotti Owens this fall.
Rich Riffle was the only donor to his campaign. He donated $503 to himself in incremental amounts, such as his most recent donation of $3.87 on April 27.
Cheri Durst did not appear on the Secretary of State’s finance report website.
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Learn more about these races and other local elections at IdahoStatesman.com/Voter-Guide.
This story was originally published May 13, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
