Gay marriage arrives today by APG-West (Idaho Press)

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Canyon County group is looking for volunteers, board members NEWS, A3

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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Ybarra skipped 15 of 17 elections

GAY MARRIAGE ARRIVES TODAY

State, Canyon County ready to issue same-sex marriage licenses

Democratic opponent Jones voted in every general election since 2002

or Nampa resident Justin Page, 36, the mandate allowing gay marriage to begin in Idaho came just in time. Page and his partner of more than nine years, Bobby Foster, 33, weren’t in any rush to get married. Then, Page’s stepfather was diagnosed with cancer. His stepfather has perhaps six months to live, Page said. “I know he wants to be optimistic, but the chemo and radiation — it’s going to take a lot out of him,” Page said. “I want him to be a part of this while he still can.” It’s been a roller coaster few weeks for Page, Foster and other same-sex couples and advocates in the Gem State. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco struck down gay marriage bans in Idaho and Nevada early last week. That evening, the court issued a mandate that would allow gay marriage to begin in both states immediately. The following day, minutes before courthouses opened and licenses would have been issued, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy granted state officials’ emergency request for a delay in Idaho, but not in Nevada, where no such request was made. On Friday, the Supreme Court lifted its hold, but by that time, the Ninth Circuit had recalled its mandate. A new mandate was issued Monday, allowing marriages to begin at 10 a.m. today. On Tuesday, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter issued a statement saying he would not fight gay marriage mandates any longer.

By CLARK CORBIN Idaho Education News

MOUNTAIN HOME — If state superintendent hopeful Sherri Ybarra votes on Election Day, it will be the first time the Republican has cast a ballot in a November general election while living in Mountain Home. According to El- Sherri Ybarra more County elec- GOP candidate tion records, Ybarra has not voted for a governor, a state superintendent, a president or a state legislator in a general election since moving to Mountain Home in 1996. Jana Jones Ybarra did not Democratic respond to multiple candidate requests for comment from Idaho Education News on Tuesday — including messages emailed to her and emails and phone calls to campaign spokeswoman Melinda Nothern. When asked about her voting history last month, Ybarra made it sound as if skipping an election was a rare occurrence. “We have all missed an election or two in our lifetime, and I am not exempt from that,” Ybarra said during a Sept. 26 City Club of Boise candidate forum. Idaho Education News reported that Ybarra did not vote in the 2012 general election, when voters overturned Propositions 1, 2 and 3 after a contentious statewide debate over K-12 policy. The conSHERRI YBARRA troversial education overhaul was authored by State Superintendent Tom Luna, the Republican Ybarra hopes to succeed next month. But based on voting records reviewed Tuesday morning, Ybarra missed at least 15 of 17 primary or general elections between 1998 and 2012. Ybarra moved to Mountain Home sometime in 1996; depending on the precise date, she did not vote in either eight or nine consecutive general elections. Ybarra registered to vote on June 16, 2010, but did not vote in that year’s general election. That November, voters elected four officers who are on the GOP ticket alongside Ybarra: Gov. Butch Otter, Lt. Gov. Brad Little, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and Treasurer Ron Crane. Ybarra also sat out the 2006 general election, when Otter was elected to his first term and Luna narrowly beat Democrat Jana Jones, Ybarra’s opponent this year. Jones has voted in every general election since 2002, when Bonneville County officials first started tracking voting histories. Jones also voted in state primary elections in 2006, 2010 and 2014, county records show.

Please see Marriage, A11

Balukoff, Otter spar at Nampa debate John Bujak left out of debate for qualification reasons By KELCIE MOSELEY kmoseley@idahopress.com

NAMPA — While there were few new revelations between Gov. Butch Otter and Democratic candidate A.J. Balukoff at the gubernatorial debate Tuesday night, Constitution Party candidate Steve Pankey added his own two cents to the race that hadn’t been heard before.

Please see Debate, A4

Nampa School District ends year with a positive balance Board votes in favor of limited busing to New Horizons By BOBBY ATKINSON batkinson@idahopress.com

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We have all missed an election or two in our lifetime, and I am not exempt from that.”

CANYON COUNTY WILL ISSUE LICENSES

IPT photo illustration

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According to the Canyon County Recorder’s Office, employees will be ready to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples when the mandate goes into effect Wednesday. To obtain a marriage license in Canyon County: n Both parties must be present n Residents must pay a $28 fee, payable only in cash n Residents must provide Social Security numbers for both parties Marriage license applications are available at canyonco.org. They don’t need to be filled out in advance, officials said, but doing say can reduce wait times at the Recorder’s Office. After obtaining a marriage license, Canyon County requires that it be used within one year. Once the license is signed by an officiant, the marriage is legal and valid.

I am elated. I am overcome with glee. I am just so dang happy. I’m not only happy for myself, but for all of the gays and lesbians who truly love their partners and were denied this right for years to be recognized by everyone as being married.” JUSTIN PAGE, Nampa resident

I continue to believe that the federal courts are mistaken in abandoning the sanctity of traditional marriage and in undermining the will of Idaho voters and each state’s right to define marriage. But we are civil society that respects the rule of law. We have done all we can through the courts for now to defend traditional marriage in Idaho.” BUTCH OTTER, Idaho governor

NAMPA — The Nampa School District climbed out of a $5.8 million deficit in the 2013-14 school year, ending the year with a general fund of $1.7 million. The Board of Trustees said at a meeting Tuesday it expected the general fund to be around $500,000, but the district saved $1.2 million in unspent savings. “I did not expect that amount to come up,” Chairman Bob Otten said. Trustee Daren Coon said the savings came because the district spent only what was necessary. While it was more than the district expected, Superintendent David Peterson said the district is not as “financially healthy” as it needs to be. “A million dollars in a $108 million budget is not much,” Peterson said. “... (But) I’m very happy people were that frugal.” Of the carryover funds, $500,000 will be used to begin to rebuild the district’s financial reserves. The rest of the of the money will be spent on substitutes, school operation costs, computer lab upgrades, security upgrades and student activity transportation. The report from the audit also found no weaknesses in the district’s financial system or internal controls. “It’s been a difficult two years as we worked to set things right with our finances,” Otten said in a news release. “There’s more work to do, but we should celebrate the significant progress we’ve made thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of may and the strong support of our community.”

NEW HORIZONS BUSING The board voted to bring busing back to New Horizons Elementary in a limited way by piggybacking on other bus routes not at full capacity. The plan is expected to cost the district about $25,000. Peterson detailed four options for the board at the meeting — go back to the full transportation program, continue to have no transportation, piggyback on the other routes not a full capacity or a comprehensive shuttle system.

Please see Ybarra, A3  Deaths Mitzi Sadamori Ronald Fisette

Quincy Fodge Eric Gray Shirley Hall

Please see Nampa, A11 Brent Meiser Ronald Upson  Obituaries, A7

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