Superintendent of Public Instruction
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Otter retains office; Ybarra holds slim lead
BOISE – Idaho GOP Gov. Butch Otter won a rare third term Tuesday over Democratic challenger A.J. Balukoff after a hard-fought race, while the race for state superintendent of schools was too close to call at press time. First-time Republican candidate Sherri Ybarra narrowly led Democrat Jana Jones, a former chief deputy state superintendent, in early returns in the superintendent’s race, the state’s closest race.
Huckleberries: Gone too soon and already dearly missed
Patrick Jacobs, Coeur d’Alene’s unofficial king of food, fashion and fun who died too young last Sunday, was a huge fan of former Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem. Her Sandiness, longtime owner of Johannes Jewelry in downtown Coeur d’Alene, was known for rocking outfits and bling while presiding over Coeur d’Alene City Council meetings and riding as a passenger on the back of a Harley-Davidson at the city’s Fourth of July Parade. I dug this mini-review of Sandi’s stylish taste by Patrick after a council meeting in February 2007: “One thing is for sure: Sandi Bloem is a hard-core fashionista. Did anybody catch her outfit at the 2/20 City Council meeting? I tuned into red-hot CDA Channel 19, and my jaw dropped when I saw her squeezed delicately into a shiny plastic grey-and-black leopard print jacket and wearing her usual amount of bling. Her trademark salt-and-pepper upswept hairdo was 10x more vicious than usual. She must have decided to go with an extra-fierce look for the evening since she had to charm everybody into helping her sneak that little $3 million Kroc doo-dad through the system.” The Kroc Center, of course, is a smashing success. And Patrick’s observations about life and personalities in Coeur d’Alene are already sorely missed. Strike two
Ybarra’s education awards questioned
BOISE – Just one week from the election, revelations continue to emerge about a little-known educator who was the surprise winner of Idaho’s Republican primary for state schools superintendent, this time focusing on her claim to be a two-time “Educator of the Year.” Sherri Ybarra lists among her educational accomplishments “Educator of the Year 2005” and “Educator of the Year 2006.” But Idaho doesn’t have an Educator of the Year, nor has she been named Teacher of the Year, an honor that’s been bestowed annually in the state since 1959. She wasn’t even Mountain Home School District’s nominee for that state competition.
Smart Bombs: Idaho voters face Ybarra test
When Idaho schools superintendent candidate Sherri Ybarra was asked why she omitted a divorce from her personal history, she told the Idaho Statesman, “My brain doesn’t operate in the past.” It isn’t humming on all cylinders in the present either.
Idaho schools chief hopeful earned specialist degree, not doctorate
Sherri Ybarra, the Republican candidate for Idaho state superintendent of schools, claimed for months that she expected to get a doctorate in education in August, giving her a top educational credential when she’d take office, if she’s elected in November. But in August, Ybarra had only been enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Idaho for one semester. That month, she received an educational specialist degree, not a doctorate.
Candidates for Idaho’s top education job spar in debate
BOISE – Idaho’s current state superintendent of schools – the first noneducator to hold the position – loomed large in the debate Tuesday night between the two educators vying to succeed him. “If you liked Tom Luna, you’re going to love Sherri Ybarra,” Democratic candidate Jana Jones said of her GOP opponent. “We can’t afford to have another four years of a superintendent who is well-intended but ill-prepared.”