Election Roundup: Central Oregon board, levy race results

Published 12:15 pm Wednesday, May 17, 2023

: Thomas Stephens, 7, and his grandfather, Bill Anderson, look over some of the items on display at the Bowman Museum in April.

Here’s where key Central Oregon special district election races stand, based on Wednesday morning’s preliminary results. To read more coverage of the races from The Bulletin staff, go to bendbulletin.com/localstate/elections or click on the specific race’s title.

Bend-LaPine School Board

Zone 3: Cameron Fischer appears to be winning against Christopher Strengberg.

Zone 5: Amy Tatom, the incumbent, looks to win over Sherrie Grieef.

Zone 6: Melissa Barnes Dholakia appears to be winning against Chet Wamboldt.

Zone 7: Incumbent Kina Chadwick is leading with 35% of the vote, according to election results as of Wednesday morning, compared to 30% for challenger Elizabeth Justema.

Bend Fire & Rescue levy

The ballot measure 9-158, city of Bend, asked if the city should issue a five-year levy of 76 cents per $1,000 in taxable assessed property value.

The ballot measure is in conjunction with an identical Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District No. 2 measure. Both asked voters for an increase and renewal of a five-year local option levy to provide essential funding for fire and emergency medical services.

Voters appeared to be passing it by a slim margin of 52% in Tuesday’s election, according to preliminary election results.

La Pine Rural Protection Fire District levy

Voters appeared to support a levy that would bolster fire and emergency medical services in the La Pine area, according to early election returns Wednesday morning.

More than 66% of voters approved Ballot Measure 9-157, and more than 32% voted no, the early results showed.

Sisters School District levy

The Sisters School District asked voters to renew the levy, currently 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

As of Wednesday morning, the levy was passing with 74% of the votes.

Central Oregon Community College Board

Zone 5: Erin Merz was in the lead with 53% of the vote, compared to Diane Berry’s 45%.

Zone 6: Jim Porter was leading Wednesday morning with 67% of the vote against Kevin Knight, David Price, Maureen Radon and Michael Sipe, who dropped out of the race earlier this month due to an impending move, though his name remained on the ballot.

Bowman Museum five-year levy

The Bowman Museum’s five-year operation levy, 07-85 Crook County, was overwhelmingly approved by voters in Crook County in Tuesday’s election, according to preliminary results.

The measure, which will continue the Bowman Museum’s existing local operation levy for five more years, was passing with 78% of voters saying yes compared to 22% voting no, according to preliminary results Wednesday morning.

Redmond Area Parks and Recreation District Board

Position 4: Newcomer David Rouse is in the lead with 43% of the vote against BJ Soper (31%) and incumbent Zach Harmon (24%), in Wednesday morning preliminary results.

Position 5: Newcomer Lena Berry had a sizable lead with 58% of the vote over Louie Arzaga’s 40%.

Redmond School Board

The topsy-turvy Redmond School Board looks to have filled four of its five seats during Tuesday’s election.

Position 3: Amada Page (52%) is leading a close race against Wendell Otto (47%)

Position 4: Incumbent Keri Lopez is projected to be reelected to a four-year term on the board with 57% of the vote compared with Brad Porterfield’s 42%, according to Wednesday morning preliminary results.

Position 5: Liz Goodrich was ahead of challenger John Campbell with about 58% pf the vote compared to Campbell’s 41%.

Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District No. 2

In conjunction with the Bend Fire & Rescue measure, the Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District No. 2 measure asked voters for an increase and renewal of a five-year local option levy to provide essential funding for fire and emergency medical services.

As of Wednesday morning’s preliminary results, was passing by a slim margin of 51%.

Deschutes Public Library Board

Zone 1: Cynthia Claridge was leading with 55% of the vote against Tony Oliver’s 43% in Wednesday morning unofficial results.

Zone 4: Ray Miao had 59% of the votes, leading against Marisa Chappell Hossick’s 39%.

Crook County School Board

Three conservative candidates who sparked an unexpected political spectacle during their campaign were leading the incumbents they challenged, as of Wednesday morning.

Zone 1: Challenger Cheyenne Edgerly was leading 54% against Doug Smith with 44%.

Zone 3: Challenger Jessica Brumble leads 56% to Patti Norris’ 43%

Zone 4: Challenger Jennifer Knight (51%) is ahead of Jessica Ritter (37%) and Eddy Howard (11%).

Jefferson County Emergency Medical Services District

A measure that would merge fire and emergency medical services in Jefferson County appeared to be passing Wednesday morning, according to early election returns.

More than 87% of voters were in favor of the measure, according to the early results.