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CHS counselor tied to PAC flyer

by Maureen Dolan Staff Writer
| May 12, 2018 1:00 AM

Rick Jones, treasurer of the Independent Republicans for Idaho political action committee, said a political mailer paid for by the PAC and including language linking him to his employer, the Coeur d’Alene School District, was mass-mailed before he was able to review it.

The letter begins with Jones asking readers to vote for Republican Brad Little for governor. The letter states Jones is making the request “as a devoted North Idaho conservative Republican and a counselor at Couer d’Alene High School.”

It ends with a copy of his signature followed by “Couer d’Alene High School (Go Vikings!).”

Jones said Friday he knew the letter was going out, but he did not “specifically write it.”

“Had I been able to proofread it ... it would not have affiliated me with the school district,” Jones said. “It would have been worded differently.”

He also noted he would have spelled “Coeur d’Alene” correctly.

School district policy and the Idaho Department of Education’s Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators each specifically address the issue of educators engaging in political activities.

The Coeur d’Alene School District policy states staff must be clear that their opinions are theirs alone and do not represent the views of the school system.

The state code of ethics for educators lists “using institutional privileges for the promotion of political candidates” as unethical professional conduct.

Coeur d’Alene School District spokesman Scott Maben said Jones informed the school district that he did not authorize or sign the letter mailed out in his name.

“We also know he is aware of our policy on employees engaging in political activities as well as the state code of ethics for professional educators,” Maben said. “Candidates, campaigns and political groups need to be mindful of these constraints placed on public employees.”

The Independent Republicans for Idaho PAC, which paid for the mailer, reported $331,500 in contributions on its pre-primary campaign finance disclosure form on file at the Idaho Secretary of State’s office.

The disclosure lists a Boise post office box as the PAC’s mailing address. That mailing address is also the P.O. Box for the Idaho Education Association, which is the state teachers union and one of the PAC’s largest donors.

The Republican PAC’s greater campaign contributions, which helped pay for $133,071 in expenditures, came from organizations generally perceived as liberal.

The PAC received $75,000 from the national teachers union in Washington, D.C.; $76,950 from the Idaho Education Association; $90,000 from Conservation Voters for Idaho Action Fund; and $75,000 from the International Association of Firefighters in Washington, D.C. There are multiple smaller donations from firefighters associations locally and throughout the state and into Montana.

Jones explained the PAC’s backing from left-leaning groups. He said things have been going well in recent years between state lawmakers and the unions, and good work is being done.

“We really think Brad Little is going to be the one to continue to do that,” Jones said.