David Eberle, former Boise councilman, to run for ACHD

David Eberle, who gave up his seat on the Boise City Council last year when he moved to Garden City, said he’ll take on Rebecca Arnold in next year’s Ada County Highway District elections.

“This agency fits within my area of interest and expertise,” Eberle, an economist who also sits on the board of Boise’s urban renewal agency, said in an email. “Transportation grid is one of the most important infrastructure assets for long-term growth of our area.”

Eberle said he’ll formally announce his run early next year. The emergence of a serious candidate to oppose Arnold will come as welcome news at Boise City Hall, which has frequently butted heads with the district’s board of commissioners. Arnold, particularly, has been a thorn in the side of Mayor David Bieter and the City Council.

An Eberle victory would continue a transformation of the district’s board. Last year, newcomers Kent Goldthorpe and Paul Woods took two seats on the commission, one from incumbent Mitchell Jaurena, who also tended to oppose Boise leaders. Goldthorpe and Woods have been more friendly to Boise’s transportation wishes.

Eberle served more than 10 years on the council. His philosophy on transportation has traditionally mirrored that of Bieter and the council, which favors a push for better public transportation systems.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 10:34 AM with the headline "David Eberle, former Boise councilman, to run for ACHD."