May 20, 2009

N. Wasco school levy fails
Deschutes Rim Clinic levy succeeds

By Sam Craig
The Chronicle

      The results of Wasco County’s special districts election are in and it’s a mixed bag of wins and losses.
      Two out of four local measures were given the go-ahead by voters in the May 19 Special District Election.
      North Wasco School District 21’s proposed five-year local option tax levy was trounced by a two-to-one margin. The final tally had 67.93 percent of voters saying “no” to the district’s request for $1.50 for every $1,000 worth of assessed value on their homes to pay for repairs and maintenance at district schools and buildings.
      The loss is a disappointment to the district and the school board, though it was expected based on the results of a voter survey, said North Wasco School Board Superintendent Candy Armstrong. It’s a tough loss for the district, but, Armstrong says, the school board plans to go ahead and try again next November.
      “That has been what the board has said all along that they would do,” Armstrong said. “I believe the results are right in line with what the survey told us what we would see. That information will go back to the board, they’ll take a look at voter turnout. We’ll take a look at the percentage of votes, and then the board will have to make a determination, but that has been what they’ve stated publicly is that they intend to go back out in November.”
      Dufur Parks and Recreation District’s proposal to raise property taxes by more than three percent with a three-year local option levy was shot down as well, losing by a slim margin. Voters turned down the measure that officials say would have raised $135,000 for the district by 47.21 percent to 52.79 percent.
      Voters approved the White River Health District’s measure that asked voters for a four-year local option tax to take care of Deschutes Rim Health Clinic’s general operating costs. The clinic that in December was asking the Wasco County Court to allow them to file for bankruptcy will now receive 50 cents per $1,000 worth of assessed value to keep their heads above water. Voters approved the measure by 58.92 percent to 41.08 percent.
      Far southern Wasco County residents voted to annex parts of the Crooked River Ranch into the Jefferson County Library district. The measure will permanently raise property taxes by 43.49 cents for residents in the area in order to eliminate usage fees for non-Jefferson County residents needing to check out materials from the library. The measure passed easily with 41 of 61 voters checking “yes” on their ballots with 20 voters saying “no.”
      Out of the dozens of candidates running for office in Wasco County, all but seven were uncontested.
      For Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation’s Position 1 Director, incumbent candidate Catherine Whalen will keep her post after receiving 58.72 percent of the vote to her opponent’s 40.48 percent.
      South Wasco County School District’s school board had Director of Zone 1 Jerry Duling running against Gretchen McCoy to keep his spot. He won with 69.55 percent of the vote to McCoy’s 29.81 percent.
      Two newcomers to the position of South Wasco County school board’s Director of Zone 6, Marcia C. Lewis and Lynn Ewing battled it out. Lewis came out on top with 55.35 percent of the vote.
      Voters in far South Wasco County were able to vote for several positions in Jefferson County.
      Anita Goodwin and Melissa Shapiro both ran for Director of Position 4 in the Jefferson County Library district. Shapiro was the victor with 67.35 percent of the vote.
      The races for Jefferson County School Board position were the most populated on the ballot.
      For Jefferson County School Board’s Director of Position 1, Laurie S. Danzuka beat out her three opponents, Roya Leriche, Floyd Calica and Lyle A Rhoan Sr. with 53.85 percent of the vote.
      Jefferson County School Board Director of Position 2 went to Lyle Rehwinkel, who got 56.9 percent to his opponent Ed Sites’ 43.10.
      For the School Board’s Director of Position 3, Tom Norton Jr. came out on top of a four-person race against David Jordan, George H. Talman and Dana Oppenlander. Norton received 50.79 percent of the vote.