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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015 NORTH COAST A race in Warrenton, even if by accident Dennis Warren, Joe Talamantz run for school board post By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — Dennis Warren, a former Warrenton-Hammond School Board member, thought he was ap- plying to take over the Position 5 on the board, being vacated this summer by former Major League pitcher Bri- an Bruney. But Warren found himself locked into a race for the two remaining years of an unexpired term in Posi- tion 7, for which he’s challenging appointed incumbent Joe Talamantez Jr. for in the May 19 special district election. Warren, 64, served on the school board from 2007 to 2011, but didn’t file for re-election, citing health is- sues. After graduating from the Uni- versity of Oregon, he was a U.S. history and English teacher at War- renton from 1974 to 2004, along with coaching the wrestling team for more than 26 years. After retirement, he helped run the People’s Scholarship, which gave out over $100,000 in a seven-year time frame, he said. He’s married to Jocelyn Warren. “It looks like an interesting time for the schools right now. I think I could bring some more experience to the board,” Warren said, counting among his former students current board members Kelly Simonsen, Bruney, Isaac Anderson and Adam Neahring. Warren said he’d like to know more about the new Smarter Bal- anced testing being rolled out along with Common Core State Standards, an effort to nationalize learning stan- dards. “That’s a huge deal; they’re put- ting so much emphasis on that,” War- ren said, adding that he’s been on state-level policy committees to help IURP /LQ¿HOG &ROOHJH DQG UHWXUQHG WR the region in 2003 with his wife, Kris- WLQ:DUUHQKDVD¿IWKJUDGHVRQDWWHQG ing Warrenton Grade School. He was appointed to Position 7 of the Warrenton-Hammond School Board over the summer, after Len Mossman left the school board to be more involved in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I like being involved in things that impact myself” and my son, Talamantez said. He’s involved in Warrenton Kids Inc. Warrenton Kids Football, Lower Columbia Wrestling and a member of the Warrenton Parks Advisory Board. “If it’s good for my son, it’s going to be good for everyone else.” Talamantez had also applied for the board position vacated by Mark Carl- VRQ WKH IRUPHU ¿QDQFH PDQDJHU IURP Astoria who left for a similar job in Joe Dennis Lake Tahoe, Calif. But Bruney was ap- Talamantez, Jr. Warren pointed to the position. Talamantez said he wants to have in- develop history tests. Warren said he’s also represented the teacher’s put as the Warrenton-Hammond School Board grows and institutes new testing. union. The Warrenton-Hammond School Before joining the school board, Ta- District recently ordered new portable lamantez said he thought it was about classrooms to help house burgeoning providing day-to-day direction to the elementary classes and has been look- principal and staff. But after months of ing at whether to invest in its existing reading up on the school board, he said buildings or build a new campus, likely he learned how the school board focus- es on the bigger picture. through a bond measure. “My goal is to make sure that we can Warren said he might be open to that effort, but wants to scrutinize all the op- get more kids to … graduation,” Tala- tions. “I just don’t want us to walk into mantez said, adding part of getting kids something that will cost us money for there is the day-to-day support for things a whole bunch of years,” he said, mak- like modern curriculum and facilities. Asked about his potential support for ing reference to a bond measure he said invested in the existing buildings 15 to a bond measure for a new and/or im- proved campus, Talamantez conceded “I 20 years ago. “I won’t lose sleep at night of he don’t want it, but do I support it? Yes.” Besides the race between Talaman- does win,” Warren said of Talamantez, adding that the two are friends and have tez and Warren, Board Chairwoman 'HEELH 0RUURZ H[HFXWLYH RI¿FHU RI worked together in wrestling. the Clatsop Association of Realtors, Talamantez is running unopposed for Position 1; 7DODPDQWH] LV WKH ¿QDQFLDO Bergerson Construction President Greg manager for Management and Training Morrill is running unopposed for Posi- Corporation, which operates Tongue tion 2, being vacated by Anderson; and Point Job Corps Center. He graduated 'DODQ 0RVV FKLHI ¿QDQFLDO RI¿FHU RI from Astoria High School in 1985 and Coast Rehabilitation Services, is run- has a bachelor’s degree in accounting ning unopposed for Position 5. 3A New library at Heritage Square likely a city goal Astoria council had been reluctant to identify a site By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian The Astoria City Council tentatively agreed Monday night to make the study of a new public library with mixed-use development at Heritage Square a city goal for the next fiscal year. In January, city council- ors had been so reluctant to commit to a location that they dropped the word “ren- ovation” from their draft goal on the library, since some thought it implied ex- panding the existing library and demolishing the old Waldorf Hotel next door. The City Council has since backed away from that option, which had been approved last year, and has instructed city staff to study a new library at Heritage Square with a housing com- ponent. The council is expected to approve city goals at a meeting later this month. While there appeared to be consensus around a li- brary at Heritage Square when the council voted unanimously in late April to direct city staff to look into the idea, some hesitation surfaced Monday night. City Councilor Cindy Price said she has heard from unhappy residents. “I have gotten an earful from constituents throughout As- toria about our decision to abandon looking at other options and go directly to Heritage Square, particular- ly without asking questions like how much will it cost to look at that only, where will the money come from?” she said. Mayor Arline LaMear said the council “needed to have some kind of direction for the staff. I think for the last year, they’ve been won- dering what in the world are we doing? “And so this does give staff a direction to look at this site and see what the possibilities might be.” Ted Osborn, the president of the Lower Columbia Pres- ervation Society, had spoken with the city about expand- ing the library into the Wal- dorf without tearing down the hotel. That option, like Heritage Square, could also involve housing. Osborn told the City Council he was disappoint- ed in the shift to Heritage Square without what he con- siders sufficient information. “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am,” he said. www.dailyastorian.com W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Is Your Financial Institution Changing? 0DNH7KH6ZLWFK.HHS<RXU0RQH\/RFDO Your 5HDOO\ \ Local Credit Union Make The Switch Now *Earn Up to $90 Cash! 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