In the original version of this article, we incorrectly labeled two of the district races and listed Jim Hansen as a candidate. Those errors have been fixed.
The Ada County Highway District (ACHD) is the county’s roadway oddity, a uniquely designed agency that owns and operates streets, roadways, and bike lanes. Depending on who you ask, it’s either tailored to solve problems and foster checks and balances — or it’s a nightmare.
What’s on the Ballot?
The five commissioners elected to lead ACHD control the way we get around our communities. These races are non-partisan and less likely to make headlines than federal races, but they’re the perfect example of how down-ballot races have the most direct impact on local residents.
Through Nov. 5, Ada County voters will decide the future of ACHD with three commission seats up for election.
- In southeast Boise’s District 1, long-time commissioner Jim Hansen is vacating his seat and backing retired city planner Patricia Nilsson over realtor Antonio Bommarito.
- In the Bench’s District 2, former ACHD commissioner Rebecca Arnold is challenging incumbent Alexis Pickering.
- In west Boise and Meridian’s District 5, incumbent Dave McKinney is running unchallenged.
ACHD is responsible for transportation in all Ada County cities, a unique public agency structure. (ACHD Commission District Map / Esri, County of Ada)
District 2’s Pickering vs. Arnold Race
ACHD’s smallest district holds its most contentious county race this election season. Alexis Pickering is the executive director at Conservation Voters for Idaho and currently holds the District 2 seat, which she won by only four votes in 2020.
Rebecca Arnold was on the losing end of that race after serving three terms. She sued the county over a vote recount and lost.
During her first term, Pickering has had a hand in steering ACHD toward more diverse modes of transportation in Boise, and has honed in on pedestrian deaths as a sign the system needs change. Arnold’s bid to return to the commission would likely mean more focus on car-centered infrastructure and a county-wide approach instead of city-specific plans.
“Pickering sees it as ‘How do we have different dreams of our cities and build that into the system?’” Idaho Statesman reporter Nick Rosenberger told City Cast Boise, “while Arnold is much more of a ‘This is what we need to do as a county,’ kind of an [approach].”
Pickering has a significant edge over Arnold in campaign contributions, leading that contest $64,771 to $7,200.
District 1’s Nilsson vs. Bommarito Race
With Pickering’s and Arnold’s history, District 2 has overshadowed the race for District 1. However, commissioner Jim Hansen’s exit leaves room for a new face on the commission, to be decided between contenders Patricia Nilsson and Antonio Bommarito.
Bommarito is a realtor and entrepreneur whose main concern is traffic. He says that decisions to acquiesce to pedestrians have increased congestion on county roadways unnecessarily.
Nilsson has Hansen’s support and is a retired planner for the City of Boise and former director of development services in Canyon County.
Similar to District 2, the financial contributions in this race show a clear lead. Nilsson has received $25,035, while Bommarito has received $6,091.
