Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
11
ELECTION
COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE -- POSITION 1
Frank Polehn
No photo submitted
1) Why did you decide to run for position 1 on the
Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Directors?
I was looking at schools and noticed increased teaching
of beliefs and other propaganda which seemed to affect the
facts, reality, and understanding of people. First I looked at
District 12 but found the 7 position did not seem available. So
then I decided the college would be the best choice. With two
empty positions on the board I figured an easy fill of a need.
Special District
Election May 18
The main ballot mailing will be April 28. The last day
to register to vote was April 27. Ballots are due
Election Day, May 18, 2021.
All candidates filing for the Special District Election on
May 18, in Wasco and Hood River counties were sent a
questionnaire with four simple questions regarding their
candidacy:
1) Why did you decide to run for a position on the
[name of board]?
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
serve on the board?
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
make?
Each candidate was also asked to provide a photo-
graph, and limited to 100 words in responding to each
question.
Many of their responses are published below, with
priority given to contested races. Additional responses
will be featured in the May 5 edition of Columbia Gorge
News.
Those candidates that did not receive the question-
naire (sent to their email as filed with the county clerk)
are encouraged to respond as soon as possible for inclu-
sion in the May 5 edition.
Those candidates who did not see the questionnaire
or respond in time can still send their answers to Mark
Gibson via email, markg@gorgenews.com, for inclusion
online and in the coming May 5 edition. Print Deadline
is April 29. Additional candidates will be featured in next
week's edition.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
I am a 1978 graduate of Oregon State University with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture. I have never de-
cided to run for any board because I felt I did not desire that
type of ego trip. I am a local orchardist retiring. My 150 spatial
IQ allows me to notice and evaluate correctly inconsistencies
in beliefs, passions, and actions by indoctrinated control
forces. My efforts will be toward challenging those inconsis-
tencies and moving toward education of facts, reality and true
problem recognition.
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
serve on the board?
My biggest effort will be to find and minimize propaganda
and resultant indoctrination which increases over time in
education institutions because control issues create desire
of leaders to control students and faculty when interactive
discussions and debate would actually reach better solutions.
I would like to have another opportunity to
use my knowledge and background to help
all learners, not just those in my classroom
and school. I hope to be a representative for
teachers and learners in our community.
Holly Price
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
I am a current resident of The Dalles and I am an ele-
mentary teacher in the Hood River County School District.
I have been teaching for 13 years. I have taught in the city of
Portland and privately at the American International School
of Hong Kong and QSI International School of Shekou,
China. I have taught grades 1-5 as well as Service Learning at
the high school level. I was also a middle school, JV and var-
sity volleyball coach for many years. I received my Master’s
of Education from the University of Oregon and am special-
ized in Educational Technology.
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
serve on the board?
My top priorities if voters select me to serve on the board
are all focused on students, teachers and staff. I want to
be a voice for students and teachers that are teaching and
learning in a classroom right now. I want to make sure
students, teachers, staff and families of all backgrounds,
races, and cultures are getting what they need to thrive and
be successful. This may be access to high quality technology,
professional development, or early learning, depending on
the need. It is important to have a balance of people who are
actively working with students and administrators that make
decisions for schools. I hope to be part of that balance.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
make?
I cannot see what changes need to be made straight away
but, if elected, my inquiry would be around distribution of
funds, policies on testing and assessment data, and access
to high quality education and technology across all districts
that the ESD represents.
Additional candidates
will be in next week's
edition, or find us online at
www.columbiagorgenews.
com.
Four additional candidates have filed for the Columbia
Gorge Community College board, all uncontested:
Position 2, four year term: Jonathan Fost
Position 3, two year term: Tim Arbogast
Position 5, four year term: Kim Morgan
Poisition 7, four year term: Lucille Begay
1) Why did you decide to run for a po-
sition on the Columbia Gorge Education
Service District?
I decided to run for a position on the
Columbia Gorge Educational Service District
Board of Directors because I care about
educational opportunities for every sort of
student in the Columbia Gorge. I have roots
Stacey
in the community and want to make use of
Holeman
my training and experience in education to
contribute to both the providers and the patrons of the ESD.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
My husband Mike and I settled our family in The Dalles
in 1987. I have a degree in elementary education from Lewis
& Clark College in Portland, a master's in special ed from
Portland State, and am National Board Certified. I’ve taught
kindergarten through fifh grade in different combinations,
spent years on The Dalles Community Connections team,
and was director of a D21 Structured Learning Center for
students with Autism and Multiple Disabilities for 10 years
before retiring in 2014. I’m currently a distance educator for
Heritage Institute and Director of Beca Project, a scholarship
nonprofit in Guatemala.
Jon Paul Anderson
360-921-1541
Mill: 509-427-8413
2022 Wind River Hwy • P.O. Box 8
Carson, WA 98610
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
I am proud to call The Dalles home. I grew up east of here
in Umatilla, Ore. After completing a master’s in public ad-
ministration at the UO, I worked for the university for several
years as part of a team that secured increases in aid for stu-
dents and built bridges between the University, the economy,
and communities across the state. I currently work for the
state in a program that empowers communities to meet their
economic development goals. I will bring to the CGCC board
knowledge of the higher education industry, strong commu-
nity relationships, and skills in listening and collaboration.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
make?
They can do more of what they are already doing. They
are already doing a great job of connecting students with
careers. They are very active in working with industry to
address workforce needs. They are one of the institutions in
our community focused on ensuring that every kid has access
to the training they need to succeed. I want to help them do
more of it.
COLUMBIA GORGE ESD
(UNCONTESTED)
ESD ZONE 4
Susan Gabay
1) Why did you decide to run for a po-
sition on the Columbia Gorge Education
Service District?
I consider experience with and un-
derstanding about the Columbia Gorge
Education Service District to be very import-
ant in an effective board. I have confidence
in the evolving potential that our Education
Service District has to serve current and fu-
Susan Gabay
ture community needs. I am impressed with
the outstanding team of CGESD directors and staff and the
statewide network of service districts that has developed over
the past several years.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do
you live?
I have lived 45 years in the Mosier Valley and have worked
in public service through the State of Oregon Department
of Human Services for over 40 years. Prior to retiring in 2017
as Self-Sufficiency Program Manager for the five county
Columbia Gorge District, I worked primarily in Wasco and
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
Hood River counties and know them very well. I am a long
serve on the board?
term board member of One Community Health and have
If voters select me to serve on the ESD board, my top priori- volunteered with various different organizations.
ty will be getting up to speed on the current services and sup-
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
port network provided by the ESD. I look forward to getting
to know the other board members and the administration of serve on the board?
My top priorities for our ESD will be strengthening the in-
the ESD and to visiting the districts and entities it supports. I
will strive to be an active listener, to learn from those who are frastructure, adapting to pandemic and post pandemic condi-
already in place supporting educational opportunities in the tions, and continuing to support our growing STEM, Migrant
Columbia Gorge, and to use my experience and resources to Education, Early Childhood, School Improvement, and
move the mission forward.
Information Technology programs. I am especially interested
in the implementation of the Student Success Act with special
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
emphasis on student wellness, safety, and suicide prevention.
make?
Also I will be keenly tracking progress toward expanded and
I think it’s premature for me to propose changes to the ESD, improved school based health services in Wasco County as
but I will approach this new position, if I’m elected, with an
I know the ESD has been working on a planning and design
open mind and a spirit of optimism and support.
“It took a lot of pressure off of maintaining my own home.
I pay one payment, and that makes life a whole lot easier.”
WKO-High Cascade Mills
Douglas Fir
White Fir
Pine
1) Why did you decide to run for position 1 on the
Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Directors?
Over the past year, I’ve reflected a lot on our community.
My wife Carrie and I feel extremely grateful to be part of a
community full of caring and thoughtful people. I found
myself wanting to find new ways to give back. With my experi-
ence working in higher education at the University of Oregon
and as a current CGCC Budget Committee member, the
CGCC Board seems like a fun and important place to invest
time and energy. Together, we can strengthen the bridges
between classrooms and careers for our kids and help meet
the workforce needs of our small businesses.
MORE RACES NEXT WEEK'S EDITION
Resident at The Springs at Mill Creek
Buying Logs
& Timber
No photo submitted
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to
serve on the board?
I will focus on three key areas as a member of the CGCC
4) What changes do you think the district needs to
Board of Education:
make?
• Strengthening the connection between the curriculum at
I have not been involved in the school for some time. I do
CGCC, careers, and four-year degree tracks;
not know what problems actually exist outside of the knowl-
• Working to expand partnerships with employers to
develop programs that lead into high-wage jobs for our kids
edge most schooling has moved toward belief control and
and neighbors; One particular challenge I am excited to help
away from reality exposure. I expect to be mostly a check
address is the shortage of trained workers in the construction,
on board decisions by other members. I am the type to seek
information on both sides of a decision and attempt to reach tech, and hospitality sectors.
• Ensuring access to education for our underserved
the most useful and ethical solution.
See related story page A2. communities.
COLUMBIA GORGE EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT — ZONE 2
1) Why did you decide to run for a po-
sition on the Columbia Gorge Education
Service District?
Nathanael Stice
Independent Living
Assisted Living I Memory Care
1201 West 10th Street I The Dalles
541-296-1303
TheSpringsLiving.com
See ESD, page 13