Same language on candidates’ sites
The GOP candidate running for state schools chief said she takes full responsibility after reports of wording on her campaign website that matched her opponent’s.
As first reported by Idaho Education News on Wednesday, Democratic candidate Jana Jones says her site was published almost two months before Republican candidate Sherri Ybarra announced her candidacy.
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work to have the kind of education system we want for Idaho’s kids … Parents, students, educators, business leaders, elected officials, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, working together to make it happen.” — Jones and Ybarra websites
“I was surprised to learn of the similarity in language on the websites on the contact pages. The contact copy page was posted six months ago for the primary election in March. I sent my web managers copy regarding issues and positioning statements. They wrote other copy points on the contact page; however, I take responsibility for final copy content,” Ybarra said in a statement Thursday.
Jones also released a statement, in which she said she appreciated Ybarra removing the content, but said, “Idahoans have had enough of a superintendent who is not open, honest and accountable, and my opponent seems to be cut from the same cloth.”
The similar language appeared in a 46-word paragraph that contains nearly the exact same wording except for the difference of eight words.
The sites also had identical language where supporters can leave a comment.
Click here to view Ybarra’s page after it was changed. You can view an archived version with the words in question here.
