Two school trustees running for re-election in the West Ada School District will each face one challenger on Election Day in November — and both incumbents say they won’t attend a candidate forum Tuesday.

In Zone 1, Board Chair Lori Frasure, who was first elected in 2021, is running against social worker Dara Ezzell-Pebworth.

In Zone 3, incumbent Angie Redford, also elected in 2021, will face teacher and mother of five Meghan Brown.

Voters in Zone 3 will see a third name on the ballot. Candidate Anna Marie Young told EdNews on Thursday that she is stepping out of the race to support Brown, but it is too late to take her name off the ballot. Sample ballots on the Ada County website show Young’s name.

Young said the district’s response to the “Everyone is Welcome Here” poster that teacher Sarah Inama hung in her classroom was the main reason she filed to run. West Ada made national headlines this year when district officials told her to remove the poster, which featured multiracial hands.

Young said she urges her supporters to vote for Brown.

“I’m confident that she understands the issues that are important to me,” Young said.

Voters will have a chance to meet the two challengers at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Meridian City Hall, at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Frasure and Redford both told EdNews they will not attend the forum. Brown and Ezzell-Pebworth confirmed they will attend.

Both incumbents also declined phone interviews with EdNews, but the two challengers took calls Thursday. The two incumbents also did not respond to questions provided via email.

Zone 1

Lori Frasure (incumbent)

Frasure is finishing her first term and serves as board chair.

On her campaign website, Frasure states that she “stepped up to serve West Ada families at a critical time” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the 2021 election season, both Frasure and Redford opposed mask mandates and appeared in a radio interview with Idaho GOP Chairman Tom Luna. According to previous EdNews reporting, Luna told listeners “it’s critical that you get out and vote and support these conservatives, Republican(s) that ha(ve) stepped up to run in these races.”

In 2022, Redford and Frasure voted to end COVID exposure notifications to parents if a classmate tested positive for the virus.

Her website lists other accomplishments: strong academic results, protecting students, fiscal responsibility and accountable leadership.

“Lori believes parents should always have a voice in their children’s education, and she has been a consistent advocate for open communication between the district and the community,” her website states.

Frasure reported $7,750 in contributions, with five donors chipping in $1,000 each.

She shares several donors with Redford.

Both candidates received $1,000 from Meridian realtor Meghan Saboori and $1,000 from businessman Travis Hawkes. According to Idaho sunshine reports, Hawkes previously contributed to high-profile state Republicans, including Gov. Brad Little, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke and state superintendent Debbie Critchfield.

The only expense her campaign has reported is $425 for photos.

Dara Ezzell-Pebworth

Ezzell-Pebworth is a licensed master social worker who focuses on advocating for Idahoans across the Treasure Valley, she said in a Thursday interview.

“I think one thing that I want voters to know about me is that I want to hear them,” Ezzell-Pebworth said. “I want to respond to the emails. I want to respond to their concerns. I want to engage in healthy discussions on how we can work collaboratively together to shape West Ada.”

One of the biggest issues in the district is “visible inclusion,” she said.

“Essentially, visible inclusion is ensuring that everyone knows that they have a place that they can go, and that they’re not going to be judged on the basis of religion, ethnicity, race,” Ezzell-Pebworth said. “And that it’s not going to be a factor, whether that’s education or workplace.”

She said it’s important to let all students know that they have a place where they are safe.

Ezzell-Pebworth said she is new to elections and is learning as she goes. Her campaign is working on collecting donations to purchase yard signs.

She has reported $500 in contributions from two donors and no expenses.

Zone 3

Angie Redford (incumbent)

School board races are nonpartisan, but Redford describes herself as “A Proven Conservative Leader for West Ada Schools” on her campaign website.

In addition to sharing common donors, Redford and Frasure also host very similar websites with the exact same graphics and list of accomplishments.

Redford’s website highlights her fiscal responsibility, career and technical education expansion, safe schools, academic excellence and parental involvement.

“Angie quickly became known as a steady, principled voice who works hard to ensure our schools reflect the values of Ada County families,” her website states.

Redford has lived in West Boise for 10 years. She is a wife, mother and community volunteer.

“Angie’s leadership has earned her the trust of families across Meridian and Ada County because she leads with integrity, listens to concerns, and takes action,” her website states.

Redford reported $4,630 in campaign contributions and no expenses.

Meghan Brown

Brown is a certified teacher who has worked in local schools for nine years. She is married with five kids and works part-time as a substitute teacher and volunteers with the PTA.

“My children will be in West Ada schools for the next 13 years so I have a personal interest in strengthening relationships across the district,” Brown told EdNews in a phone call Thursday morning.

If elected, Brown said she would be an active representative of the schools and families in zone three. She would meet with parents, teachers and principals.

“I think a trustee of a zone should be real representative of their area and not just someone who fills a chair,” Brown said.

Teacher retention is a big issue in the district, Brown said, and she supports increasing base teacher pay and improving benefits.

On the controversy surrounding the “Everyone is Welcome Here” poster, Brown said the district’s response created a negative perception of West Ada. Brown said she sides with Trustee René Ozuna, who expressed “full support” for the poster during an April school board meeting.

“I didn’t see it as political,” Brown said Thursday.

Brown’s campaign has raised $1,700 — including $700 of her own money — and has spent most of that money on postage and advertising. Brown’s campaign received $257 from Boise resident Paul Rolig, a frequent donor to the Ada County Democrats.

Filling the vacancy

The school board is responsible for filling a vacancy in Zone 2.

Trustee Lucas Baclayon recently resigned. The district received seven applications for the vacancy, spokesperson Michelle Edmonds wrote Thursday in an email to EdNews. The application window closed Tuesday evening.

The board will conduct a special meeting on Oct. 20 to review the applications and select up to five finalists, Edmonds wrote. The trustees will then conduct interviews at a special meeting on Oct. 27 and may select the new trustee at that time.