Idaho Attorney General’s Office Finds Twin Falls School Board Chairman Violated Election Law at Mandatory Staff Meeting
Investigation Targets January Meeting at Twin Falls High School
The Idaho Attorney General’s Office has determined that Twin Falls School Board Chairman Eric Smallwood violated the state’s Public Integrity in Elections Act following a mandatory staff meeting held in January at Twin Falls High School, according to a letter sent to Smallwood by the AG’s Office.
The investigation was launched after the Twin Falls County prosecuting attorney received multiple complaints related to a district-wide staff meeting held on January 5, 2026. The meeting, held at 8 a.m. in the Roper Auditorium at Twin Falls High School, was made mandatory for all district staff and included a breakfast that cost approximately $3,171 — paid for by the school district.
According to the AG’s Office, Twin Falls School District Superintendent Brady Dickinson sent an email to all district staff on December 2, 2025, informing employees the meeting would feature “an important message” from Chairman Smallwood, organized in conjunction with the Twin Falls Education Association, the district’s teacher’s union. A follow-up email on January 4, 2026 confirmed attendance was required.
Dickinson opened the meeting by addressing the district’s reduction in force policy, a new charter school in the district, and the Idaho Legislature. Smallwood then took the floor and directed his remarks toward the upcoming election and what he characterized as threats to public education.
“We need your help,” Smallwood told the assembled staff, according to the AG’s Office letter. “Public education is under attack and if we are going to survive we need your help. What I am talking about is we need your help in voting. I’m not here to tell you how to vote, but I’m pleading for you to vote.”
Smallwood cited statistics from the 2024 primary election and told the audience they were “basically enough to swing the election.” He further stated that anyone not registered as a Republican who did not vote in the May primary would have “zero say” in who represents them in the legislature.
AG’s Office: Conduct Crossed Line From Neutrality to Advocacy
Investigators also noted that following the formal meeting, a small group of employees approached Smallwood in the parking lot. During that conversation, Smallwood referenced a specific legislator — without identifying the individual in this report — telling the group to “go look at her Substack, it’s insane” and “that is the kind of stuff we are up against.” The AG’s Office stated this parking lot exchange “violated the spirit of the Public Integrity in Elections Act.”
The AG’s Office concluded that Smallwood’s actions constituted illegal conduct even though he did not name any specific candidates during the formal meeting. “You may not have named them, but your message was clear: the staff should support public education by participating in the Republican primary and voting against the candidates who won the two races you cited from 2024,” the letter states.
Investigators also flagged concern that the meeting was coordinated with the Twin Falls Education Association, whose parent organization — the Idaho Education Association — was at the time running a political campaign containing similar messaging to Smallwood’s remarks. The school board’s defense, according to the letter, centered on the claim that Smallwood never explicitly named candidates and repeatedly stated he was not directing staff on how to vote. The AG’s Office rejected that defense, finding his conduct crossed the line from neutrality into advocacy.
The AG’s Office issued Smallwood a formal warning rather than an immediate fine, noting it was his first such violation and giving him the opportunity to “cease and desist” the conduct. Under the Public Integrity in Elections Act, penalties for violations can reach up to $250 for a first offense, $1,500 for knowing violations, and $2,500 for repeat violations within a 12-month period. The act also preserves First Amendment protections, specifying that it cannot be used to prohibit individuals from speaking or contributing to political causes so long as no public funds are used.
The case adds to ongoing statewide conversations about the appropriate use of public resources and the role of school officials in elections. For related Twin Falls School District coverage, see the recent report on Twin Falls schools holding America 250 Independence assemblies. For additional education and community news across Magic Valley, readers can also visit Kimberly High School’s on-campus mental health support program.
Statewide coverage of Idaho education and legislative matters is available at Idaho News and across the Idaho News Network.
What Comes Next
The warning issued by the Attorney General’s Office does not carry an immediate financial penalty, but puts Smallwood on formal notice that any future similar conduct could result in escalating fines under the Public Integrity in Elections Act. The Twin Falls School District has not announced any internal disciplinary review of Smallwood’s conduct as of publication. The 2026 Republican primary election cycle — the subject of the January meeting — remains ongoing, and the outcome of contested local and legislative races in Twin Falls County is expected to draw continued public attention. It remains to be seen whether the AG’s Office warning will prompt any further action by the Twin Falls County prosecutor’s office or the school board itself.