West Ada school board candidates bring in thousands in donations ahead of election
Candidates running for West Ada School Board have brought in thousands of dollars in donations ahead of the November election.
Lori Frasure, running for Zone 1, had received more than $20,000 in her run for school board as of Sept. 30, according to the candidates’ first campaign-finance reports on the Idaho Secretary of State’s website. She had far outraised her competitor, Brent Hart, who had raised more than $1,300.
In the race for West Ada School Board Zone 3, Angie Redford had raised more than $11,600 in her run, also far more than her competitor Anita Beckman, who had brought in about $700.
Two seats are up for election in November on West Ada’s five-person board. Zone 1 is in the western part of the district, covering parts of Meridian and Nampa. Zone 3 is in the eastern part, covering parts of Boise and Meridian.
Hart said on Facebook that as of Oct. 13, he decided to stop accepting donations to his campaign and encouraged people to support Beckman instead. As of that date, he said he had raised $2,545.
“I think the amount of money I’ve raised is an appropriate amount, and a number I’m OK with accepting from folks who work hard for their money and just want a great education for their kids,” he told the Idaho Statesman in an email.
He said he’s been raising money only through his fundraising link on social media and wouldn’t make calls to big donors for funds.
“I believe in local control and keeping our school board elections about the issues, rather than who can raise and spend the most money,” he said.
Hart said he’s heard from parents who are concerned about politics and money being brought into the school board election.
Frasure has received several donations of $1,000 from companies including RDJ Limited and Core Building Co. in Eagle. She also received $1,000 from Pinnacle Health Services in Utah.
Frasure did not respond to request for comment.
Beckman said she, too, planned to stop accepting donations once she had reached the amount she needed to cover all of her expenses, including yard signs and campaign literature to pass out when door knocking. She expected that would be very soon.
To date, she’s raised nearly $2,000, mainly through social media, she told the Statesman.
In response to her opponent raising more than $11,000, she said, “That’s her and her campaign. I’m just focused on our campaign and just getting the word out.”
Most of Redford’s donations have come from within the Treasure Valley. But she has also received donations from “Lori Frasure For West Ada,” “Committee To Elect Joe Palmer” and “Jim Rice For Idaho.” Redford did not respond to request for comment Wednesday.
Beckman said any excess money she might have at the end, she would donate to a cause or to something in the schools. She said she was overwhelmed and grateful that Hart had advocated for her campaign and encouraged people to donate. All of her donations have been from within the Treasure Valley, she said.
“This is my fist campaign that I have run for, I’ve just been so tickled,” she said. “I’ve just been really grateful for the supporters that I have.”
Other school board races
Most candidates in other school board races across the Treasure Valley had not raised nearly the amount brought in for the West Ada race.
In Nampa, candidates had raised up to about $2,000, according to the campaign finance reports.
Tracey Pearson, who is running for Zone 3, received $700 in donations. Chandra Reyna, her competitor, did not report any donations.
Sarah Riley, a candidate for Zone 4, had received $955. Her opponent, Brook Taylor, brought in $947. Patrick Tanner, a competitor for Zone 5, had raised $607. His opponent, Jeff Kirkman, brought in $1,957.
Many of those donations have come from residents of Nampa.
Three Nampa school board seats, in Zones 3, 4 and 5, are up for election on the five-person board.
Zone 3 includes Greenhurst Elementary and Skyview High School. Zone 4 includes Iowa Elementary, Lake Ridge Elementary, Owyhee Elementary, Lone Star Middle School, South Middle School, Nampa High School and Union High School. Zone 5 includes Endeavor Elementary, New Horizons Elementary, Park Ridge Elementary, Ronald Reagan Elementary, Sherman Elementary, East Valley Middle School, Columbia High School and Treasure Valley Learning Academy.
Candidates in many other school board races in the region did not file campaign finance reports, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
Becca Savransky covers education for the Idaho Statesman in partnership with Report for America. The position is partly funded through community support. Click here to donate.
