One Canyon County incumbent outpaces the others in fundraising. Here is who raised what
The Idaho primary election is around the corner, and in Canyon County, it will be the de facto general election, since only Republicans are running for county positions. Even with just one race, the 10 candidates raised over $30,000, with one incumbent standing out among the rest.
Canyon County Commissioner Keri Smith, who is running for reelection in District 2, raised much more in donations than any other candidates running this May. According to filings with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, Smith raised $16,741 for her election through Tuesday, the last campaign-finance reporting deadline before next Tuesday’s primary. That is more than $10,000 more than anybody else.
Because no Democrats filed for county races, the primary will act as a general election for the winners. Smith’s challenger, Brad Holton, mayor of Greenleaf, raised $4,006 by Tuesday.
Among Smith’s big donations are:
- $3,000 from Rambo Sand and Gravel, Inc., a Nampa based sand and gravel company.
- $1,000 from Eagle Cattle Co., a cattle ranch in Star.
- $600 from Aqua Irrigation, a drip irrigation installation company in Parma.
- $500 from Crookham Co., an international seed distributor based in Caldwell.
- $500 from Custom Glass, an automatic door and glazing company in Caldwell.
All of Smith’s big donors donated to her only.
Smith told the Idaho Statesman that she also deposited close to $9,000 in donations on Tuesday that will be reflected in filings by the next monthly reporting deadline on June 10.
“My dad was a good fundraiser, I am a good fundraiser, and it takes money to win,” Smith said. “We are just blessed with amazing people in our lives, people have rallied around me.”
Smith’s father is former Canyon County Sheriff Chris Smith.
She said her donations went to campaign signs and campaign ads on Facebook.
Holton got $1,000 from Lurre Construction, a Caldwell construction company; and $500 from the Concerned Citizens of Canyon County, a watchdog group concerned with the use of property tax dollars in local government.
Lurre Construction donated to three of the candidates in Canyon County raises who are challenging incumbents: Holton, Sandra Bowden for clerk, and Zach Brooks for county commissioner for District 3.
The other candidate in the race against Smith for county commissioner for District 2, Connie Constantine, did not file a campaign finance report. District 2 includes Parma, Wilder, Greenleaf, Nampa and Caldwell.
Brooks, a candidate for District 3 county commissioner, raised $4,150. He received $1,000 from Lurre Construction and $500 from the concerned citizens group.
The third District 3 candidate, Victor Holliday, raised $1,279.
They are challenging incumbent commissioner Pam White, who did not reporter any donations, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. District 3 includes Nampa.
Clerk, coroner races
Bowden, who is challenging Clerk Chris Yamamoto, raised $4,265 — $773 more than Yamamoto.
Her largest donations came from Pat Barlow, who donated $1,000; and ElJay Waite, a longtime finance director for the city of Caldwell, who donated $500.
Yamamoto donated mostly to himself.
For coroner, incumbent Jennifer Crawford raised $1,640, mostly from herself and Joseph Kronz, a pathologist in Nampa. Her challenger, Mike Pullin, donated $250 to himself.
The Canyon County primary is Tuesday, May 17. To find a list of the candidates and their platforms, check our Voter Guide at IdahoStatesman.com/Election.
