Retiring Boise trustee A J Balukoff has joined several other prominent politicos in endorsing School Board candidate Alicia Shier Estey.
In a news release issued Monday by Estey’s campaign, Balukoff said, “After 21 years on the Boise School Board, I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished for our community and I know (Estey) will continue that legacy.”
Balukoff’s endorsement was something of a departure. In an Idaho Education News interview in July, Balukoff said he planned only to endorse his two colleagues on the board, incumbents Maria Greeley and Troy Rohn.
Six candidates are running in the Sept. 4 trustee election: Branden Durst, Estey, Shari Fernandez, Greeley, Rohn and Jim Tooman. The three top vote-getters on the ballot will be elected to six-year terms.
Estey is senior associate vice president of campus operations and chief compliance officer at Boise State University. She has also secured endorsements from Boise Mayor Dave Bieter; City Council members Lauren McLean, Holli Woodings and Scot Ludwig; school trustee Beth Oppenheimer; and state Sens. Maryanne Jordan and Janie Ward-Engelking and state Reps. Mat Erpelding and Melissa Wintrow, all D-Boise.
The school board candidates will meet a 9 a.m. Tuesday in a forum sponsored by the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. We will stream the forum live on our Facebook page; check back after the forum for coverage.
