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The three candidates running uncontested are Paul Jorgensen, Debi Farr and Ashley Espinoza.
This is Espinoza’s first time running for election. She was appointed to her position in January after Dawnja Johnson stepped down.
Jorgensen and Farr have held their positions since 1988 and 2008.
Incumbent Alan Laisure is being challenged by Caleb Clark. Laisure is the current Vice Chair and has held his seat since 2001. Clark is currently PTO Secretary at Spring Creek Elementary School, works in construction and is a stay-at-home dad
The deadline to turn in ballots is May 18th.
As they say, all politics is local, and in Lane County, local politics gets heated when it’s school board elections.
The issues are huge in K-12 education racism and diversity, COVID, standardized testing and more. We are impressed by all the people willing to take on this tough and important duty. Good board members are simultaneously independent thinkers, willing to question how the board is voting and why, and yet also able to function effectively with other board members they may not always agree with to get things done.
It’s great when voters and candidates get fired up about the school board especially if it means positive changes for the kids. So knowing that Eugene and surrounding communities take their school boards seriously, our small editorial board Zoomed with as many candidates as we could, and sent surveys out to the ones who we either couldn’t squeeze in or who didn’t respond. Some candidates didn’t respond in time or at all.
Bethel School Board has four seats up for election in the May 18 Special Election, but only one contested. Newcomer Caleb Clark and incumbent Alan Laisure will appear on the ballot for Position 1.
Positions 2, 5 and 7 are also up for election. Current board members Ashley Espinoza, Paul Jorgensen and Debi Farr are running unopposed.
The Register-Guard sent all the candidates a questionnaire that asked about relevant experience, reasons for running, plans to make schools more inclusive. Here s a bit more about each of the candidates, based on their responses.
Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Caleb Clark
30-year-old Clark lived in Eugene his whole life, and still does, now with his wife and two children, the eldest being a student at Spring Creek Elementary.