U of I president folds $4,250 into GOP legislative primaries

Originally published May 2 on IdahoEdNews.org .

In an unusual move, University of Idaho President C. Scott Green has donated $4,250 to legislative candidates ahead of the May 21 Republican primary.

One of the donations — the maximum $1,000 allowed under state law — went to Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise. This spring, Winder sponsored a bill designed to restructure the U of I’s controversial $685 million plan to acquire the University of Phoenix. The bill died on the Senate floor in late March, throwing the purchase into jeopardy.

Two of the donations went to Reps. Matt Bundy, R-Mountain Home, and Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, who opposed a separate House proposal that would have allowed lawmakers to sue to block the Phoenix acquisition. That proposal passed the House but the Senate never took it up.

Green also contributed to former state Sen. Jim Woodward, who is running against Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle; and Lori Bishop, who is challenging Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton.

All five donations went to candidates facing hardline conservative incumbents or challengers in the primary.

It’s not common for a state university president to weigh in on partisan primaries. In an email Thursday, U of I spokeswoman Jodi Walker defended the donations from Green and his wife, Gabriella.

“Any political contributions made by Scott or Gabriella Green are from their own resources and are not associated with any university dollars. It is their right, as citizens, to support any candidates of their choosing,” Walker said.

Gabriella Green contributed $25,000 to Idaho Deserves Better, a third-party group that is campaigning against state Sen. Dan Foreman of Viola, a hardline conservative representing Latah County.

The April donations are not C. Scott Green’s first political contributions this election cycle. In August, Green gave $10,000 to New Horizons, a political action committee headed by then-House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett.

The April donations are not easily pieced together. Campaign finance reports list variations of Green’s name — his first and middle initials, or his first name of Cumer. The reports also list two different addresses: the U of I’s administration building and the U of I’s presidential residence.

“There is no effort to obscure this support, and in fact (the Greens) proudly confirm these donations,” Walker said.