Jana Jones, the Democratic candidate for state superintendent of schools, has been named in a guardianship dispute with her brother-in-law, Idaho Education News reports today. The brother-in-law, Michael Von Jones of Twin Falls, charges that Jones and her husband convinced his parents to write off a loan made to the couple for a business, and charges that the parents need a guardian and conservator. A doctor found that the couple was capable of living independently, but the brother-in-law is pressing for a second opinion; the other siblings and the parents are objecting to the brother-in-law’s move. Al Barrus, attorney for Jones' in-laws, Ross V. and Lorraina Jones, called the brother-in-law's filing a "smear campaign."

John Ohman, an attorney for Jones and her husband, Ross J. Jones, said the brother-in-law is engaging in a “mean-spirited” attempt at political sabotage; he served Jones with court papers in the sealed case at a political debate in Twin Falls. “Jana Jones has no involvement in the guardianship or conservatorship at all,” Ohman told EdNews reporter Kevin Richert. Jana Jones told Richert she was “disgusted” by the move, and said of her husband’s parents, “They are very supportive of me, and they always have been.” The couple has contributed $1,500 to her campaign, including a $1,000 contribution on Oct. 18. Richert’s full report is online here.