News Release

Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has added some familiar names to his Idaho staff with the announcement of new regional directors based in the Treasure Valley and Pocatello. Crapo has hired Ryan White to the newly-created position of Southwest Idaho Regional Director and Office Liaison to State Government and the Idaho Legislature. White recently completed an eight-month assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Jim Risch. He had also served as Risch’s Chief of Staff in the Lt. Governor’s Office in 2003. “My office has always had a strong presence in the Treasure Valley, from offices in Boise and in Caldwell,” Crapo said. “Ryan will direct and coordinate these efforts in Southwest Idaho as well as use his experience in the Governor’s Office to boost ties to State Government. He brings a wealth of experience, energy, and knowledge to this important new position.”

White previously served Crapo in many different capacities including time as a Legislative Aide in Washington, DC, Finance Director of his 2004 re-election campaign, and intern in the summer of 2000. White counts two Idaho 1st District Congressional Representatives in his lineage; his grandfather, Compton I White, Jr., and great-grandfather, Compton I White, Sr., both served in the U.S. House of Representatives. His grandmother, June Judd of St. Maries, served in the Idaho State Legislature. A native of Post Falls, White graduated from the University of Idaho, and is the fourth generation of his family to serve on Capitol Hill.

Farhana Hibbert is Crapo’s new Regional Director based in Pocatello. She is well-known to many Idahoans as the editor, publisher and owner of the IDAHO Unido, Idaho’s bilingual English/Spanish newspaper. Hibbert earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts from Idaho State University. She has won national awards including the US West New Ventures Competition, the Hispanic Media Award and the Women in History Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was nominated for the Idaho State Historical Society’s Esto Perpetua Award, coordinated numerous planning and education events for Hispanic students and ran for the Idaho Legislature from Bannock County in 2002.

“Farhana brings many talents to our Southeast Idaho Regional Office,” Crapo said. “I appointed her to my Statewide Housing Outreach Coalition and have followed her career as a leader in the Hispanic community, an outstanding reporter and editor, and political figure in Bannock County and know she will do an outstanding job serving Idahoans out of my Pocatello office.”

Hannelore Ferber is joining Crapo’s Boise office as a caseworker and staff assistant. Ferber, a Boise native, interned in both Crapo’s Washington, DC and Boise offices and holds a Political Science degree from Boise State University. Ferber, who is fluent in Spanish, German, and English, was active in Boise State student and volunteer groups and previously worked with Catholic Charities of Idaho. “I am pleased to welcome Hanne back to our office. She served with great distinction during her internship and her background will be a plus in dealing with Idaho constituents and their issues.”

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