Not all elections will be as impactful as the last election. But every election does matter, and with democracy under threat, voting sends a message, even if it’s only on a short ballot. So here’s what to know about the upcoming election.
What’s on the Ballot?
The races on May 20 ballots in Ada County are trustee or director positions for entities including an auditorium district, library districts, and sewer districts.
The Greater Boise Auditorium District
Like many Boiseans, there’s only one contest on my ballot, and it’s to select two Greater Boise Auditorium District (GBAD) directors out of four candidates. GBAD builds and manages convention facilities publicly, with the most prominent being the Boise Centre. Its board is voted on by the public, with each trustee serving a term of six years.
Board vice chairman Jody Olson is not running again, meaning there will be at least one new member after the election.
Jim Walker, a current member, is running for another six-year term. He will compete with three other candidates for two positions: Danielle Horras, Sophie Sestero, and Aimee Pollard Tylor. BoiseDev has coverage on the candidates and their priorities.
The Meridian Library District
The Meridian Library District faced an unsuccessful effort by a group called the Concerned Citizens of Meridian to dissolve the district in 2023. Two of the men who led the effort at the time — Phil Reynolds and Mike Hon — are running for two library board positions against a Democratic-affiliated candidate and the incumbent board chair. The trustee positions are non-partisan.
Hon is running for a board position again under many of the same priorities, while Reynolds says he’s changed his tune — although his social media suggests otherwise.
Jeff Kohler is the board’s current chair, and is running for a second term. He’s running alongside Garrett Castle, who began door-knocking to support a Meridian board trustee in 2023 and serves as a district chair for the Ada County Democrats.
The League of Women Voters of Idaho is hosting a candidate forum tomorrow, May 7, at 6 p.m. at the Cherry Lane library.
The Ada County Free Library District
Two pairs of contenders are running in the race for two seats on the Ada County Free Library District board.
An interim trustee, Suzette Moore, has paired up with Rachel Moorhouse to run for the two open seats. In a statement on “recent library controversies,” Moore and Moorhouse expressed their support of Idaho’s law to “collaboratively and respectfully” examine “any materials available to minors that might not be in compliance with Idaho law.”
The two are challenged by Johnathon Baldauf and Travis Worwood, whose statements prioritize protecting libraries from book challenges.
The other two individuals named on the ballot, Lori Billaud and Sabrina Napolitano, are no longer running.
Dates and Deadlines
Early voting began yesterday and will remain open until May 16 at the Ada County Elections office, the Eagle Public Library, Boise’s Library! at Bown Crossing, and the Boise, Eagle, Garden City, Meridian, and Star City Halls.
Voters who want to vote absentee can request a ballot until Friday.
