School board election sees competitive race

The upcoming May 21 Deschutes County special election will include eight local candidates to fill four open seats on the Sisters School District Board of Directors.

There are five numbered positions on the school board. Board members are elected for four-year terms in elections held in odd years. Elections for the positions are staggered; three positions one election, the other two positions two years later in the next election. Candidates must be registered voters and have lived in the Sisters School District for the full year prior to the election.

Candidates for Position No. 1 are newcomer Eric Pronold, frequent visitor communications speaker Dave Marlow, and the incumbent Don Hedrick. Hedrick was elected in 2009 and currently serves as board chair.

Candidates for Position No. 2 are newcomer Richard Cole and incumbent Justin Durham. Durham was appointed the council in July 2012 to fill out the second year of the term of ailing Chris Jones. The election for this position will be for two years to complete Jones' term.

Candidates for Position No. 3 are newcomers Edie Jones and Melvin Herberger. Incumbent Cheryl Stewart is not running for a second term.

Position No. 4 is held by Andrew Gorayeb, who was elected in 2011. The position will be up for election in 2015.

The lone candidate for Position No. 5 is Kay Grady. Grady was appointed in July 2012 to fill out the last year of long-term board member Glen Lasken's term.

Ballots for the May 21 election will be mailed out on Friday, May 3. Profiles of each of the candidates will be published in The Nugget over the next several weeks.