Pickford edges Seymour for Cd'A school board seat

COEUR d'ALENE - Tambra Pickford unseated incumbent Coeur d'Alene School District Trustee Terri Seymour Tuesday night, winning the board's Zone 3 seat.

Pickford received 418 votes and 51.8 percent of the vote, and Seymour received 389 votes for 48.2 percent in the School District 271 race. Voter turnout was 8 percent.

"I'm excited for this opportunity," Pickford said late Tuesday. "We have a great school district. That's one thing I've been really proud to see."

Pickford, who has three daughters in the district's schools, said she is at a point in her life that allows her to serve the community. In August, her family will have lived in the district for 10 years.

Pickford, 39, graduated from Fresno State University in California with a degree in education. She volunteers at Bryan Elementary.

She promised to be a good team player on the board and maintain a focus on helping students and teachers. She thanked Seymour for her dedicated service.

"I am thankful for my friends and colleagues who walked this journey with me every step of the way," Seymour said.

Seymour has been on the board for four years and received the endorsement of the Balance North Idaho Political Action Committee.

Seymour has two children in the school district, and has lived in the district for 22 years.

Seymour has been a supporter of parental rights in education, believing parents should be able to pull their children from activities and tests they feel are inappropriate. She also worked on the school district's anti-bullying task force.

She graduated from Kellogg High School and attended North Idaho College. She has worked in the corporate office of Great Floors for the past 20 years, providing accounting, office management, human resources and payroll administration.