Former ER Nurse Challenges Incumbent in Bonneville County Coroner Race Ahead of Idaho Primary
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Bonneville County voters will have a choice to make on May 19 when the incumbent coroner faces a challenger with nearly two decades of emergency medical experience in what shapes up as a competitive primary race for a critical public safety office.
Shante Sanchez, the current elected Bonneville County Coroner, is being challenged by Tim Schuijt, a Family Nurse Practitioner and former emergency room registered nurse who has lived in Idaho Falls with his wife and three children for the past 11 years. The winner of the May 19 Republican primary will appear on the general election ballot on November 3.
Two Candidates, Two Backgrounds
Sanchez brings a forensic and academic profile to her reelection campaign. She holds a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University, where she specialized in Investigative Criminology and Severe Mental Illness, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Idaho State University. She is also a certified Medicolegal Death Investigator through the University of North Dakota.
During her tenure, Sanchez says she has focused on modernizing the coroner’s office by implementing national standards, digital case management systems, and regional collaboration through resource-sharing initiatives. She also highlights her background as an entrepreneur and her work as a public speaker on substance awareness and safe sleeping practices.
“Her goal remains constant: to provide the citizens of Bonneville County with a professional, transparent, and modernized Coroner’s Office,” Sanchez wrote in her candidate questionnaire response, as reported by EastIdahoNews.com.
Schuijt, who has not previously held elected office, is running on a platform rooted in his extensive hands-on medical experience. Over nearly two decades, he has worked as an Emergency Medical Services provider, an emergency room registered nurse, and a Family Nurse Practitioner — roles that required him to coordinate with law enforcement, hospitals, and emergency responders under high-pressure conditions.
Beyond his medical career, Schuijt is active in the local community, coaching youth soccer and emphasizing values of teamwork and accountability. He described his connection to Bonneville County as deeply personal, noting his family has called the area home for more than a decade.
Platform Priorities: Fiscal Discipline, Transparency, and Public Trust
Schuijt outlined three central pillars for his campaign: disciplined, process-driven operations; responsible fiscal management of taxpayer resources; and building public trust through transparency and dignity in how the office handles families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“I believe strongly in the responsible use of taxpayer resources,” Schuijt wrote in his questionnaire response. “My experience in healthcare has required me to manage supplies, staffing needs, and equipment allocation while staying within allocation constraints. That same discipline applies to this office.”
His emphasis on fiscal responsibility and structured accountability aligns with values broadly shared by Bonneville County voters, who have consistently favored candidates committed to lean, transparent government operations.
Sanchez, for her part, framed her reelection bid around the continued evolution of the office, pairing forensic expertise with what she described as compassionate, modern public service. She emphasized the intersection of psychological insight and investigative methodology as central to her approach to death investigation.
Both candidates participated in a debate hosted by EastIdahoNews.com and submitted questionnaire responses that were published without edits, providing voters a direct look at each candidate’s qualifications and priorities. The thoroughness of public safety operations in Bonneville County — including coroner coordination with law enforcement on cases involving criminal investigations such as drug-related incidents and other emergencies — underscores why the office carries significant weight in the community. The coroner’s office also intersects with local public safety responses, including situations like accident scenes and sudden-death investigations across the county.
What Comes Next
Bonneville County voters will head to the polls for the primary election on May 19, 2026. The candidate who wins the primary will advance to the general election ballot on November 3, 2026. Voters seeking additional information on this race and other local primary contests can find candidate questionnaires and debate coverage through EastIdahoNews.com’s East Idaho Elects voter guide. For broader statewide election coverage, readers can visit Idaho News, and for regional network context, IdahoNewsNetwork.com.