If you want to become involved in school or special district boards, you have some decisions to make by next week.
The deadline to file for elective boards that oversee Lincoln County schools, a community college, ports, fire boards and dozens of fire, water and road district boards is Thursday, March 16.
School boards and special service districts elect board members not in the busy November election cycle where they can get lost in the shuffle of big-name politicians or issues, but in off-year May elections where voters can focus on the small districts that provide many local services.
In Lincoln County, the elections range from two members of the Lincoln County School District and four members of the Oregon Coast Community College boards, to port districts in Waldport, Newport and Toledo, three fire districts, and more than a dozen small water and road districts serving rural areas.
For large districts such as schools or the college, board positions are elected by geographic zones. For all others, you just have to live in the district, be a registered voter and fill out a form from the county clerk’s office.
Instructions on how to file are available on the elections website for the Lincoln County clerk. Information is also available at individual district offices.
The mail election is May 16. If a board seat is not filled via an election, then a majority of the service district board can fill it by appointment. A list of districts and positions open is available on the county clerk’s website.
There are several money measures on the May ballot:
- A $32 million bond for Oregon Coast Community College to help it build a trades-training building and make improves to other buildings;
- Renewal of a 20 cent per $1,000 assessed property tax levy to fund the chief’s position at the Seal Rock Fire Department; and
- A proposal by the Southeast Nelson Wayside Drive Special Road District just east of Waldport for a five year, 50 cent per $1,000 assessed property tax levy to care for the road and its right-of-way.
Below is a list of major districts, their board openings and filings as of 5 p.m. Thursday:
- Oregon Coast Community College: Four of five zoned board seats currently held by Jeff Ouderkirk, Nancy Osterlund, Alison Baker and Debbie Kilduff are up for election. Baker and Kilduff have filed for re-election to their Zone 6 and 7 seats while Jake Moose of Toledo for the Zone 4 board position.
- Lincoln County School District: Two of five zoned board seats – Positions 1 held by Megan Cawley and Position 2 held by Liz Martin are up for election. Martin has said she is not running again. The only person to file so far is Mitch Parsons of Lincoln City who has filed for Position 1.
- Port of Alsea: Two of five board seats held by Rob Bishop and Jan Power are up for election. Both have filed for re-election. No others, including members of a recall campaign against four board members including Bishop and Power, have filed to run;
- Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue District: Because of the recall of two members and the resignation of a third in 2022, all five board seats are up for election. Jon MacCulloch, who was appointed last year, has filed for a two-year term on Position 3 and Waldport city council member Rick Booth has filed for Position 4, a four-year term, now held by Kevin Battles who is not running for re-election. Waldport city council member Greg Dunn has filed for Position 1, which is held by Ray Woodruff, who was appointed last year. Board appointee Zach Akin has filed for Position 2 and incumbent and board chair Reda Eckerman has filed for Position 5;
- Seal Rock Fire District: Four of five board seats are up for election. David Pelligrinelli and S.D. “Skip” Smith, who were both appointed in 2022, have filed for election. Board president Karl Kowalski has filed for his Position 3 seat. The other seat up for election is Position 4 held by Mike Burt.
- Yachats Rural Fire Protection District: Two of five seats are up for election — Position 1 held by Drew Tracy and Position 2 held by Katherine Guenther. So far, only Tracy has filed for election;
- Southwest Lincoln County Water PUD: Three of five board seats are up for election and incumbent Larry Anthony is the only person to file so far;
- Seal Rock Water District: Two of five board seats are up for election and incumbents Rob Mills and Glen Morris have filed;
There are also board positions open on the ports of Newport and Toledo, the Lincoln County Library District, the Pacific Communities and North Lincoln health districts, which oversee hospital properties in Newport and Lincoln City, and fire districts in Depoe Bay, east Lincoln County, rural areas east of Newport, North Lincoln and Siletz.
There are also positions on seven other water district boards, 12 road districts and three sanitary districts.
Important dates to remember:
- Last day for candidates to file for office: March 16
- Last day for candidates to submit voter’s pamphlet material: March 20
- Voter registration deadline: April 25
- Ballots mailed out: April 26
- Election Day: May 16