Developers, businesses give $1000s to Ada commission, sheriff candidates. Follow the money

Will one party control the Ada County Commission? And who will replace Ada County’s assessor, who has held the position for 28 years?

Local — and some not so local — businesses want more than their say at the ballot box, and have put money where their mouths are.

Ada County candidates are heading into their final month of fundraising before the Nov. 8 election that will determine their political futures. This year’s races include competitions for commissioner, assessor, coroner and sheriff.

A look at this year’s races shows that development and construction companies make up the backbone of Republican candidates’ big donors, while local Democratic standard-bearers have passed dollars on to Democratic candidates.

We took a look at who’s been donating to various campaigns, and which candidates have raised the most money. In Idaho, campaigns must file donor reports with the Secretary of State’s office, which publishes them online.

The two open seats on the County Commission will likely determine whether Republicans can maintain control of the board, which has two Republicans and one Democrat. The board’s chair, Rod Beck, is running for reelection, while Commissioner Kendra Kenyon decided to not seek reelection, citing a threatening political environment. A new candidate will fill her seat, which will be for a two-year term.

Beck’s campaign has raised by far the most dollars of any campaign, with major Republican donors — some of whom are outside of Ada County — pouring money into his bid. Tom Dayley, a Republican running for the other commissioners district, has also received large donations, several from home builders.

Bob McQuade has been Ada County assessor since 1994. He will retire at the end of the year, and a new candidate will take his place. A plumbing company has given lots of money to the Republican candidate, Rebecca Arnold, while the Democratic candidate, Erik S. Berg, has not received any funds above the minimum reporting threshold.

At the Sheriff’s Office, incumbent Matthew Clifford, who was appointed last year, faces Democratic challenger Victor McCraw.

Local businesses — including a product supply company that donated money to Clifford, who then spent campaign funds on that same company — and construction companies have mostly backed Clifford, while McCraw has received some small donations from other Democratic candidates.

Several candidates, including Dotti Owens, an incumbent Democrat running for coroner, have used personal funds to finance parts of their campaigns.

Here are top contributors to the candidates for the Ada County Commission, sheriff, assessor and coroner. Additional races this year include uncontested races where Republicans seek re-election for county clerk and county treasurer, retention elections for magistrate judges, and board members for the Ada Soil & Water Conservation District.

All terms are for four years unless otherwise noted. In local races, donors can give a maximum of $1,000 per race, meaning they can donate up to that amount during the primary and again during the general.

Rod Beck (Commissioner District 2, Republican, incumbent)

In District 2, which covers northwest Ada County, former legislator Rod Beck faces Democrat Stan Ridgeway.

Beck has raised over $60,000 during the past year, outpacing his opponent, who has raised about $20,000, according to campaign finance records.

Beck, who previously served as majority leader in the state Senate, has received donations from local developers and state Republican figures. His largest donors:

• Bryan Smith, Idaho Falls attorney who has run against Rep. Mike Simpson: $1,000
• Sharon Smith, Bryan Smith’s spouse: $1,000
• Winning for Idaho, a major Republican donor: $1,000

• Avimor Development LLC, a developer: $1,000

• Avimor: $1,000
• Evan Buchert, of Premier Land and Livestock, LLC: $1,000
• Serena Buchert, Boise attorney: $1,000
• Bradley Pfannmuller, general manager of Avimor: $1,000
• Curtis and Christie Mardock. Curtis is chief financial officer at Avimor: $1,000
• Dan Richter, Avimor managing partner: $1,000
• Rebecca Richter: $1,000
• Lindsay Batie: $1,000
• J.M. Auld Rental Account, a property management company: $2,000
• Jim Auld: $1,000
• Lorna Auld: $1,000
• Tim Flaherty, founder of Astegos, a housing nonprofit: $1,000
• Russell Westerberg, owner, Westerberg & Associates, a lobbying firm: $1,000
• Doyle Beck, brother of Rod, on the executive committee of the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee and board member of the Idaho Freedom Foundation: $1,000
  
  
• Lynn Beck: $1,000
• BECO Construction Co. Inc., whose founder is Doyle Beck: $1,000
• Cecelia Lopes: $1,000
  
  
• Lopes Anthony: $1,000
• Kevin Zasio, CEO of Zasio, a technology company: $1,000
• James H. Hunter, co-founder and president, Boise Home Hunters: $2,000
• Jan Hunter, co-founder, Boise Home Hunters: $2,000
• Travis Hunter, co-owner Boise Home Hunters: $2,000

• Cody Hunter: $2,000

• Big TV Pac, a conservative political action committee: $1,000
• Conservative Citizens for Thoughtful Growth: $1,000
• Tall Timber Consulting LLC: $2,000
• John Evans, Garden City mayor: $1,000
• Janet Russell, co-owner, Rocket Express Car Wash: $1,000
• Joe Russell, co-owner, Rocket Express Car Wash: $1,000
  
  
• J. Ramon Yorgason, of Capital Developers Inc.: $1,000
• Larry Williams, founder of Idaho Timber Corp.: $1,000
  
  
• Marianne Williams, spouse of Larry Williams: $1,000
• A. Vance Kemler, chief resource officer, LFG Development LLC, a Texas landfill developer that owns an electricity plant in Boise: $1,000
• Stefan Gleason, president, Money Metals Exchange: $1,000
• James Tomlinson, president of Boise Housing Corp. at Tomlinson & Associates, a real estate company: $1,000
• SMC Properties, owned by Stefan Gleason, according to Boise State Public Radio: $1,000
• Gary Hawkins, owner and CEO of Hawkins Cos., a developer: $1,000
• Idaho Land Fund, a major Republican donor: $1,000
• Coeur d’Alene Tribe: $1,000
• Idaho Pain Institute, whose address is the same as Back2Life Medical, a Meridian nurse practitioner: $1,000

Stan Ridgeway (Commissioner District 2, Democrat)

Ridgeway, the former mayor of Eagle, has received large donations from local Democratic figures:

• Diana Lachiondo, former Ada County commissioner: $1,000
• Lauren Necochea, Boise representative: $1,000
• Janet Buschert, board member of the Eagle Urban Renewal Board of Commissioners: $1,000
• Russ Buschert, Eagle businessman: $1,000

Patricia Nilsson (Commissioner District 3, Democrat)

In this race for a two-year term to represent southern Ada County, Nilsson has raised close to $28,000. Nilsson is a Boise resident who has worked for several local governments.

Her top donors:

• Robert Fick, former Idaho Department of Labor spokesperson: $2,000

• Kate Fick: $2,000

• Diana Lachiondo: $1,000
• David Spann, professional facilitator at Chaosity LLC: $1,000
• Tammy Adams, professional facilitator at Chaosity LLC: $1,000
• 723 LLC: $1,000
• Lauren Necochea for Idaho: $1,000
• Sarah Martz, vice president of Idaho Smart Growth: $1,000
• Janet Buschert: $1,000
• Russell Buschert: $1,000
• Idaho Realtors Political Action Committee: $1,000

Notable smaller donors:

• Scrap Shop, a major Democratic donor: $900
• AJ Balukoff, former Boise School District trustee: $750
• Holli Woodings, Democratic Boise City Council member: $250
• Ilana Rubel, Democratic House minority leader: $250

Tom Dayley (Commissioner District 3, Republican)

Dayley has raised more than $24,000 over the past year. That includes a $1,000 personal donation and a $10,000 loan to his campaign.

Dayley was previously the state executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a member of the Idaho House and an aide to Idaho Republicans in Washington, D.C., according to the Idaho Republican Party.

His top donors:

• Richard Durrant, general manager of Big D Ranch Inc.: $1,000
• Dan Richter, Avimor managing partner: $1,000
  
  
• Bedke for Idaho Bedke, House majority leader and Republican nominee for lieutenant governor: $1,000
• James H. Hunter, co-founder and president, Boise Home Hunters: $1,000
  
  
• Jan Hunter, co-founder, Boise Home Hunters: $1,000
  
  
• Travis Hunter, co-owner Boise Home Hunters: $1,000
  
  
• Coeur D’Alene Tribe: $1,000

An independent candidate, Anthony Jones, has not filed any campaign donations, according to state records.

Matthew Clifford (Sheriff, Republican, incumbent)

Clifford has raised more than $73,000 over the past year in his bid to keep the job that county commissioners appointed him to after former Sheriff Stephen Bartlett resigned suddenly in May 2021 to “attend to a couple personal items.” The sheriff makes $149,000 a year.

His top donors:

• EGT Solar: $2,000
• Jennifer Navest Realty LLC: $1,000
• Fully Promoted, promotional products supplier: $1,000
• Steelhead Graphics: $1,000
• Carol Clifford: $1,000
• Dan Richter, Avimor managing partner: $2,000
  
  
• Rebecca Richter: $2,000
• Daniel Walker: $1,000
• James Clyde: $1,000
• Shera Walker: $1,000
• Barber Valley Development Inc.: $1,000
• James Chambers, general manager at a construction company: $1,000
• Hamish Bell, president of Forge Building Co.: $1,000
• Leading Idaho: $1,000
• Tommy Ahlquist, CEO of commercial developer Ball Ventures Ahlquist: $1,000
  
  
• Timothy Bundgard, president and CEO at Pioneer Title Co.: $1,000
• Idaho Land Fund: $1,000
• Consult Idaho: $1,000
• Tall Timber Consulting LLC: $1,000
• Derden Law, Idaho immigration firm: $1,000
• Jennifer Navest Realty LLC: $1,000
• MAC3 LLC: $1,000
• BHH Dry Creek Homes, LLC: $1,000
• The Diamond Girls, Boise jewelry store: $1,000
• Clearwater Homes Services, a roofing contractor: $1,000

Victor McCraw (Sheriff, Democrat)

McCraw, the former director of Idaho’s Peace Officer Standards Training — which is tasked with training Idaho’s law enforcement — is running for Ada County Sheriff. Clifford’s opponent has raised nearly $6,000, including a $2,000 personal loan and $614 in personal donations.

His biggest donors:

• Madalyn VanValkenburgh: $300
  
  
• James Murphree: $500

Other notable donors:

Rebecca Arnold (Assessor, Republican)

Arnold, a Boise lawyer, is a familiar candidate in the Boise area, having served on the Ada County Highway District board from her 2004 election until her defeat in 2020, and having run unsuccessfully for Boise mayor in 2019.

She raised more than $30,000 over the past year, according to campaign finance records from the Idaho Secretary of State’s office.

After filing to run in February, Arnold first loaned $10,000 of her own funds to her campaign in March, then $1,200 more, followed by $7,740 in May and $1,500 in June. The campaign has spent $28,065 of her funds.

A commissioner’s job is full time, and members of the board make $122,000 annually.

Her biggest donors:

• Don Hubble, a builder: $1,000

• Winston Moore, a developer: $1,000

• Milford Terrell, president of DeBest Plumbing Inc.: $1,000

• Grace Terrell, secretary of DeBest Plumbing: $1,000

• Darcy Neidigh, office manager of DeBest Plumbing: $1,000

Notable smaller donors:

• Luci Willits, the Boise City Council’s only Republican: $200
• Patricia Kempthorne, the spouse of former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne: $100

Erik Steven Berg (Assessor, Democrat)

Berg, a Boise resident who is chair of the Ada County Democratic Party, told the Statesman that he has not been fundraising. Berg has not filed donation reports with the Secretary of State’s office.

Dotti Owens (Coroner, Democrat, incumbent)

Owens has raised over $15,000 during the past year, including a $1,711 personal donation and a $5,000 personal loan. The coroner makes $106,000 annually.

• Erik Berg, Democratic candidate for assessor: $1,000
• Martin Van Horn, an Ada County facility manager: $1,000
• David Pate, former president and CEO of St. Luke’s Health System: $1,000

Notable smaller donors:

• Diana Lachiondo: $250
• Lauren Necochea: $250

Rich Riffle (Coroner, Republican)

Owens’s opponent has raised over $2,500, including close to $700 of his own money. His top donors:

• Katherine Lovan LLC: $500 in-kind
• John Riffle: $750
• William Riffle: $200

This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 4:00 AM.

Ian Max Stevenson

Idaho Statesman

208-274-3538

Ian Max Stevenson covers state politics and climate change at the Idaho Statesman. If you like seeing stories like this, please consider supporting his work with a digital subscription. Support my work with a digital subscription