The May 21 special election in Malheur County will fill many local board positions, but most candidates are running unopposed. (The Enterprise/File).
VALE – Malheur County voters will see only five contested races in the special district election on May 21.
Two will be on ballots in Ontario – one for a seat on the Ontario School District board and the other for an Ontario Parks and Recreation District board seat. Two will be for seats on the Nyssa School Board. One will be for a seat on the Juntura Rural Road Assessment District.
The deadline was last Thursday, March 21, for candidates to file to run for the local board offices and be listed on the ballots.
Across the county, there were no filers for four positions – one in the Arock School District, two in the Juntura School District, and one in Dell Brogan Cemetery District.
Those positions can still be filled by write-in candidates. If no write-in candidate is qualified or accepts the position, the posts can be filled by appointment.
Here’s a look at the filings by district.
• The Malheur Education Service District, which provides support services for school districts in the county, has four seats to fill in May. Incumbents Les Linegar, David Westerberg, Jill Conant and Cheri Hung all filed to retain their seats.
• In the Ontario School District, incumbent Michael Blackaby is being challenged by Darin Bell. Board member Eric Evans is running unopposed to retain his board post.
• Nyssa School Board incumbents Marlon Wilson and Michael Hartley are running unopposed. Jeremy Peterson and Kelly Dorathy are competing for the seat occupied by Lucy Beck. Kyle Woodruff is challenging incumbent Patricia Morinaka.
• Juntura School Board incumbent Daniel Pozzi filed for re-election to the board, but two other open seats drew no candidates.
• Jordan Valley School Board incumbent Mike Quintero is running for re-election unopposed, while Jessica Smith and Zack Dufurrena are running unopposed for the two other open seats.
• In the Annex School District, incumbents Kenneth Parker and Todd Johnson are running unopposed for the board.
• McDermitt School board members Gladys Elordi, Tammy Wilkinson and Fred Wilkinson are unopposed in their re-election bids.
• Adrian School Board incumbents Quinten Shenk, Eddie Kinkade and Bobby Davis are unopposed.
• Harper incumbents Garett Bentz and Gary Johnson are also unopposed for seats on the charter school’s board.
• Arock School Board incumbent Vineto Andre is running unopposed, and Joseph McElhannon is running unopposed for a vacant seat. No one filed for the seat now held by Michael Eiguren.
• Vale School Board incumbents Michael McGourty and Scott Gressley are running unopposed for re-election.
• Treasure Valley Community College District voters will see incumbents Cheryl Cruson, Stephen Crow, Mark Wettstein and newcomer Matt Sorensen running unopposed for seats on the college board.
Fire Protection Districts
• Adrian Rural Fire Protection District: Incumbents Corey Osborn, Fred Bierig and George Martin, all unopposed.
• Annex Rural Fire Protection District: Incumbent Todd Johnson is running unopposed. Newcomer J.R. Hendrickson also is unopposed for the seat now held by Robert Smith.
• Vale Rural Fire Protection District: Incumbents Larry Justus, Michael Recla and Carl Judy, unopposed.
• Nyssa Rural Fire Protection District: Incumbents James Farmer, Michael McClain and Anthony Frost, unopposed.
• Ontario Rural Fire Protection District: Incumbents Larry J. White, Mike Derrick and Dan Tschida, all unopposed.
Cemetery boards
All candidates for cemetery boards are running unopposed. The filers are:
• Dell-Brogan Cemetery District: Incumbent Marjorie Smith. No filings for seat now held by Walter Scott.
• Ironside Cemetery District: Incumbent Tony Burris.
• Jordan Valley Cemetery District: Incumbent Ellen Reed.
• Fairview Cemetery District: Incumbent John Woods.
• Owyhee Cemetery District: Incumbent Julie Bennett.
• Valley View Cemetery District: Incumbent Kris VanLith.
• Hilltop Memorial Cemetery District: Incumbents Kathaleen Pratt and Kenneth Bittick.
Rural Road Districts
• Nyssa Rural Road District: Incumbents Don Sappe and David Robbins.
• Ontario Rural Road District: Incumbent Gary Davis.
• Juntura Rural Road District: Ethan Bentz is challenging incumbent Mitch Siegner.
• Ironside Rural Road Assessment District: Incumbent Steve Clark is running unopposed.
Other uncontested candidates include:
• Pioneer Nursing Home Health District, incumbents Karlene Keller, Kerri Wenger and Kathy Judy.
• Malheur Memorial Health District: Incumbents Larry Wilson, Kim Stipe and Ruston Munk.
• Ontario Library Board: Incumbents Randall Kirby and Tricia Maldonado.
In the Ontario Recreation District, incumbent Robert Boyd is unopposed for his seat, while incumbent Toni Davila faces a challenge from Ann Fitch-Schiemer.
The last day for new voters to register in time for the May election is April 30. Voters can confirm their registrations online.
Ballots will be mailed May 1 and must be received by the county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 21.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct errors regarding the number of filings, the number of candidates and the offices they were seeking. The errors occurred because The Enterprise did not fully access ballot information.
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