Central Oregonian

Filing deadline approaching for May ballot

School bond measure is only a small part of what will appear on the ballot

Jason Chaney

March 04, 2013

Voters can expect a full ballot this coming May with multiple local board vacancies and a new school bond measure at stake.

The election will decide the fate of Bond Measure 7-61, which would provide $18 million to replace Ochoco and Crooked River elementary schools with a new school and $15 million more to finance renovations for other Crook County schools. The bond would maintain the current tax rate of $1.03 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The Crook County School Board recently announced that they would like to build the approximately 70,000-square-foot school on a 15-acre portion of land in the Ironhorse subdivision.

Along with the bond measure, voters will elect multiple district board representatives. The deadline to file for May 21 election is March 21, and vacancies remain on the Crook County School District, Fire and Rescue, and Parks and Recreation District boards. One position has opened on the Central Oregon Community College board, and people can also file for vacancies on five different water control districts boards as well as the Crook County Cemetery Board.

Terms expire for four Crook County School Board positions in June. Current Chair Patty Norris is seeking re-election for the at-large position and incumbent Scott Cooper has picked up paperwork from the Crook County Clerk’s Office to run again for Zone 2. So far, nobody has filed for Zone 4, which is currently occupied by John Lang, and Ray Graves is seeking the Zone 3 position, previously held by Rich Mires.

“I have got two kids in school,” Graves said of his decision to run. “I want to make sure they get the best education possible.”

The Crook County Fire and Rescue Board has three open positions. So far, Dale Pedersen has filed to fill position 4 while no candidates have emerged for positions 1 and 2.

Three candidates have filed for two openings on the Crook County Parks and Recreation District Board. Incumbent Forrest Carbaugh seeks re-election for position 1 as does Barbara Pennington for position 3. Challenging Pennington is Scott Smith.

“They set policy,” said Parks and Recreation Business Manager Jeannie Searcy. “They approve the budget along with five appointed (budget committee) members. Most of them are involved in any special programs we do, or special activities.” She added that such events include Western Daze and Santa’s Workshop.

With the water districts, on the Jasper Knolls board, one candidate has filed for each of its three openings, with John Beck vying for position 1, Ron Jones Stanley for position 2, and Beverly Jones Stanley for position 3. Penny Dick has filed for position 5 on the Juniper Canyon Water Control District Board while nobody has filed for position 4.

The remaining water districts have no candidates thus far. Four openings remain on the Highland Subdivision Water District Board, meanwhile Ochoco West Water and Sanitary Authority needs to fill three vacancies, and the Jordan Water Control District has two openings on its board.

Rounding out the ballot, positions 1 and 2 are available on the Crook County Cemetery District board and the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board has a vacancy for Zone 2. Crook County voters will help decide the opening on the COCC board because of the school’s partnership with the Crook County Open Campus facility in Prineville.

Unlike most general elections, which take place every two years, the district elections typically experience a lower voter turnout, and some positions ultimately lack candidates to vote on. However, Leslie Trammell, elections deputy at the Crook County Clerk’s office, expects the final candidate tally to go up before the March 21 deadline.

“I’m expecting a few more to come in,” she said, “but I don’t know that all positions will be filed for.”

The deadline to file for the May 21 election is Thursday March 21. To file, visit the Crook County Clerk’s Office, on the second floor of the Crook County Courthouse. They can be reached at 541-447-6553.