FINAL elections filings (3.14.14, 6:36 p.m.)

The matchups are set.

Here’s the rundown from the final candidate filings from the secretary of state’s office, posted Friday evening. We’ve compiled a list with a view toward K-12: filings for state Land Board posts, and legislative races involving legislative leadership, the budget-writing Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and the education committees. We’re also working on a list of teachers and education officials in the running; if I’ve missed any, please email me.

Among the last-minute surprises Friday, Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde got a Republican primary challenge from Mary Souza, an outspoken City Hall critic who ran for Coeur d’Alene mayor last year. In another last-minute surprise (albeit not on the K-12 beat), former U.S. Rep. Richard Stallings filed for 2nd Congressional District. Stallings, who served from 1985 to 1993, will face the winner of the GOP primary between current U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and Bryan Smith.

With that, here’s the long final list.

Land Board races

Governor: Butch Otter, Republican, Star; Russ Fulcher, Republican, Meridian; Walt Bayes, Republican, Emmett; Harley Brown, Republican, Nampa; A.J. Balukoff, Democrat, Boise; Terry Kerr, Democrat, Idaho Falls; John Bujak, Libertarian, Eagle; Steven Pankey, Constitution, Shoshone; Pro-Life, independent, Letha; Jill Humble, independent, Boise. Otter is seeking his third term.

Superintendent of public instruction: John Eynon, Republican, Andy Grover, Republican, Melba; Randy Jensen, Republican, American Falls; Sherri Ybarra, Republican, Mountain Home; Jana Jones, Democrat, Idaho Falls. Incumbent Tom Luna is not seeking a third term.

Secretary of State: Lawerence Denney, Republican, Midvale; Phil McGrane, Republican, Boise; Mitch Toryanski, Republican, Boise; Evan Frasure, Republican, Pocatello; Holli Woodings, Democrat, Boise. Incumbent Ben Ysursa is not seeking re-election.

Attorney general: Lawrence Wasden, Republican, Nampa (incumbent); C.T. “Chris” Troupis, Republican, Boise; Bruce Bistline, Democrat, Boise. Wasden is seeking his fourth term.

Controller: Brandon Woolf, Republican, Boise (incumbent); Todd Hatfield, Republican, Eagle. Appointed in 2012, Woolf will appear on the ballot for the first time.

Legislative leadership

House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, is unopposed for an eighth term in District 27.

House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, will run for a ninth term in District 14. Eagle Democrat Jane Rohling will face Moyle in the November election.

House Assistant Majority Leader Brent Crane, R-Nampa, will seek a fifth term in District 13. He has a Republican primary opponent, Patrick O’Brien of Nampa.

House Majority Caucus Chairman John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, is unopposed for a fourth term in District 22.

Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, is seeking his eighth term in District 34. He has a GOP primary opponent, Scott O. Smith of Rexburg.

Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, is unopposed for a ninth term in District 33.

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder, R-Boise, is unopposed for a fourth term in District 20.

Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, the Senate’s minority leader, is seeking a third term. She is opposed by Bellevue Republican Dale Ewersen.

Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, the Senate’s assistant minority leader, is unopposed for a seventh term in District 17.

Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise, the Senate’s minority caucus chairwoman, is seeking her third legislative term in District 19. Hidden Springs Republican Tony Snesko has filed for the seat. Buckner-Webb also sits on the Senate Education Committee.

Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston. The House minority leader is unopposed for a sixth term in District 6. Lenore Republican Jim Evans filed for the race, but withdrew Friday.

Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise. The House’s assistant minority leader is seeking his fourth legislative term, the Senate seat in District 16. He will face Boise Republican Joel Robinson in November. Incumbent Sen. Les Bock, D-Garden City, is not seeking re-election, and is running for district court.

Rep. Donna Pence, D-Gooding, the House’s minority caucus chairwoman, is seeking her sixth term. She will face Shoshone Republican Don Hudson in the November election. Pence also sits on the House Education Committee.

Who’s missing? Only Fulcher, the Senate’s majority caucus chairman. His run for governor also creates an opening on the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Education Committee members

Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, is seeking an eighth term in District 4. He will be opposed in the Republican primary by Mary Souza of Coeur d’Alene, an unsuccessful mayoral candidate in 2013.  A Constitution Party opponent, Ray Writz of Coeur d’Alene, is also in the race.

Vice Chairman Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, is unopposed for a fifth legislative term in District 30. Mortimer also serves on JFAC.

Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, is seeking his sixth legislative term in District 3. He faces a Republican primary opponent, Patrick Whalen of Post Falls. Coeur d’Alene Democrat Jerry Shriner also is in the race.

Sen. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, is seeking his fifth legislative term in District 8. Like Mortimer, Thayn also serves on JFAC. Letha independent Kirsten Faith Richardson is also running.

Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, is seeking a ninth term in District 9. He faces a Republican primary opponent, Abby Lee of Fruitland.

Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, is seeking her second legislative term. She was elected to the House in District 18 in 2012, and appointed to the Senate a year later. Ward-Engelking will face the winner of a GOP primary between Boiseans Edward Dindinger and Susan Decker Alvord.

Sen. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, is unopposed for a fifth legislative term in District 25.

Who’s missing? Fulcher is the only Senate Education Committee member not seeking re-election to the Legislature.

House Education Committee members

Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, will seek a third term in District 14. He is facing Eagle Democrat Rob Spencer.

Vice Chairman Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, will seek a seventh term in District 23. He has an opponent in the GOP primary: Steven Millington of Buhl, who ran unsuccessfully against Nielsen in 2012. Mountain Home Democrat “Spike” R.L. Ericson is in the running, as is CJ Nemeth, a Mountain Home independent.

Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene, will seek a second term in District 3. Terry Werner of Post Falls will face him in the GOP primary. Post Falls Democrat Michelle Lippert also is in the race.

Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins, will seek his seventh term in District 7. He will be opposed by Kenneth Murray Meyers, a Sagle Democrat.

Rep. Terry Gestrin, R-Donnelly, is seeking his second term in District 8. He has a Republican primary opponent, Ernest Walker of Emmett.

Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, is seeking a fourth term in District 9. Weiser Republican Jeri Soulier has also filed to run.

Rep. Patrick McDonald, R-Boise, is seeking his first full term in District 15. He was appointed in 2014. McDonald has a Republican primary opponent, Jason Joel Robinson of Boise. Boise Democrat John Hart has filed as well.

Rep. Hy Kloc, D-Boise, is seeking a second term in District 16. Boise Republican Jim Silsby is also in the race.

Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, is seeking her first full term in District 18. She was appointed in 2014. Rubel has a Republican opponent, Ryan D. Jenks of Boise.

Rep. Steven Harris, R-Meridian, is unopposed for a second term in District 21.

Rep. Richard Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, is seeking his seventh term in District 23. He has a Democratic opponent, Mary Ann Richards of Homedale.

Rep. Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls, is seeking his second term in District 24. Twin Falls Democrat Dale Varney has also filed.

Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, is seeking her second term in District 30. Constitution Party candidate Robert D. Gorgoglione Sr. has also filed.

Rep. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, is running unopposed for a second term in District 31.

Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, will seek an eighth legislative term in District 33. He has a Democratic opponent: Jim De Angelis of Idaho Falls.

Who’s missing? No one. All 16 House Education Committee members filed for re-election.

JFAC members

Co-chairman Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. The Senate’s senior member is unopposed for a 13th term in District 27.

Co-chairwoman Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, is unopposed for a 14th term in District 25.

Vice chairwoman Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, is running for a 10th term in District 1. She will face a Republican primary opponent, Danielle Ahrens of Sandpoint. Constitution Party candidates Christian Fioravanti of Bonners Ferry and Jack Mervin of Blanchard are also in the race.

Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, has filed for an eighth term in District 1. He has a Republican primary opponent, Sage Dixon of Ponderay. Democrats Bob Vickaryous of Bonners Ferry and Andrew C. Sorg of Sandpoint have also filed for the seat.

Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, is unopposed for a third term in District 2.

Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, will seek a third term in District 5. He faces a Republican opponent, John Carlson of Moscow.

Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, will seek a third term in District 6. He is opposed by Pete Gertonson, a Lewiston Democrat.

Rep. Thyra Stevenson, R-Lewiston, will seek a second term in District 6. Lewiston Democrat Dan Rudolph has also filed for the seat.

Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, will seek a third term in District 7. She has a Democratic challenger: Casey Drews of Osburn; she was an unsuccessful House candidate in 2012.

Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa, is seeking a second term in District 12. He has a GOP primary opponent, Robert Muse of Nampa, and a Democratic opponent,  F. Lawrence Dawson of Nampa; Dawson ran for House in 2012.

Rep. Phylis King, a Democrat, has filed for a fifth term in Boise’s District 18, and she already has a Republican challenger: Domenico Gelsomino.

Sen. Cliff Bayer, R-Meridian, is unopposed for a seventh legislative term in District 21.

Rep. Steven Miller, R-Fairfield, will seek a second term in District 26. He has a Democratic opponent: Richard Fosbury of Bellevue, a 1968 Olympic gold medal-winning high jumper.

Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocaello, is unopposed for a third legislative term in District 29.

Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls, is seeking his fourth term in District 30. He has a Republican primary opponent, Steve Yates of Idaho Falls. Also running is Constitution Party candidate David G. Hay of Ammon.

Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, is running unopposed for a fourth term in District 32.

Who’s missing? House vice chairman Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell, has said he is not seeking re-election. Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, is running for Congress.

Education connections

Here are some teachers or school officials running for the Legislature.

Brent Adamson. The Basin School District trustee, Boise County assessor and Idaho City Republican is one of two primary challengers to Rep. Lenore Hardy Barrett of Challis. Barrett is seeking a 12th term in District 8. Merrill Beyeler of Leadore is also running in the GOP primary. Stanley Democrat Jocelyn Francis Plass is also in the field.

Ryan Kerby. The New Plymouth School District superintendent is running on the GOP ticket in District 9. He’s running to succeed Denney. Also in the running: Payette Republican Howard Rynearson and Weiser Democrat Steve Worthley.

Travis Manning. The Caldwell teacher is running again for the House in District 10, on the Democratic ticket. Manning will again take on Rep. Brandon Hixon, R-Caldwell, who is seeking a second term.

Leif Skyving. The Caldwell School Board member is making another run for Legislature in District 10. He’s running on the Democratic ticket for the House seat now held by Bolz. Also in this open race: Caldwell Republican Greg Chaney; Caldwell independent Gordon Counsil; and Caldwell Libertarian Eugene Spencer Smith.

John McCrostie. The Garden City Democrat, a music teacher, is running for a House seat in District 16. Incumbent Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, is running for state Senate. Boise Democrat Jimmy Farris, a former congressional candidate, is also in the race, as is Garden City Democrat Jeff Stephenson. Boise Republican Rosann Wiltse has also filed for the open seat.

Troy Rohn. The Boise School Board member is taking a second run at a House seat in District 19. He’s running for the House seat now held by Rep. Holli Woodings, D-Boise, a secretary of state’s candidate. Melissa Wintrow is also running in the Democratic primary.

Catherine Talkington. The retired high school teacher and Twin Falls Democrat is challenging Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, who is seeking a fourth term in District 24.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]

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