Who’s running for West Ada School Board? See the candidates and what they say
Two school trustee seats are on the November ballot for voters in Idaho’s largest school district.
Four candidates will face off in the West Ada School District, which serves Meridian, Eagle, Star and western Boise, in the first school board election since the district drew backlash this spring for ordering a teacher to remove a sign from her classroom stating “Everyone is welcome here.”
Incumbents Lori Frasure, who chairs the board, and Angie Redford will aim to defend their seats against a challenger each. Both seek a second term after being elected in 2021 on campaigns that focused on parental choice on masks and vaccines during the coronavirus pandemic. The pair also drew attention at the time for outpacing competitors in raising funds for their campaigns.
Challengers Dara Ezzell-Pebworth and Meghan Brown decided to join this November’s race as political newcomers, spurred by concerns over the district’s position on the “Everyone is welcome” sign. Ezzell-Pebworth and Brown say making students feel welcome in the district is a priority.
In West Ada, trustees are elected by zone and serve four-year terms.
Frasure and Ezzell-Pebworth will face off in Zone 1, which encompasses western Meridian.
Redford and Brown will vie for the seat in Zone 3, which includes parts of eastern Meridian and western Boise. A third candidate for Zone 3, challenger Anna Marie Young, unofficially withdrew from the race in an Instagram post on Sept. 16, putting her support behind Brown. Young missed the official deadline for candidate withdrawal, and her name will remain on the ballot.
Statesman Q&A: West Ada candidates on the issues
Below are the candidates’ answers to Idaho Statesman questions about top priorities and perspectives on issues including classroom displays and private-school vouchers. The candidates’ responses are unedited. Swipe below to see the responses, or click on the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom.
To learn more about this race and other local elections, go to IdahoStatesman.com/Election. Find more Treasure Valley candidate Q&As like this in the Statesman’s Voter Guide.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 7:15 AM.
