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THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, MAy 8, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
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Publisher
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OUR VIEW
Choices for college board, park district
S
lates of candidates have emerged for the boards
at Clatsop Community College and the Sunset
Empire Park and Recreation District in the May
18 election.
At the college, the issues are an enrollment decline
during the coronavirus pandemic and a problematic
computer software system. At the park district, there is
backlash over the purchase of the old Broadway Mid-
dle School in Seaside.
But since the primary responsibilities of these
boards is to supervise top administrators, the futures
of Chris Breitmeyer, the college president, and Sky-
ler Archibald, the park district’s executive director, are
part of the conversations.
In our political endorsements in 2020, we reset our
view of nonpartisan local boards and commissions.
We prefer these boards to function more like juries:
open-minded, objective and drawn from a cross sec-
tion of our community.
We are looking for thoughtful, well-rounded peo-
ple who can help guide our institutions. Shepherds, not
activists.
So we are skeptical of slates.
Organizing a slate makes sense when a board is dys-
functional, hopelessly off track on policy or on the cusp
of a significant decision that has divided public opinion.
Otherwise, we think voters should be careful about grant-
ing power without knowing exactly how it will be used.
We are encouraged, however, by the quality of can-
didates for the college and the park district. Most have
the kinds of backgrounds, experience and skill sets that
are valuable in these roles.
COLLEGE BOARD
Clatsop Community College, like other community colleges in Oregon,
experienced an enrollment decline during the pandemic.
The decline has been complicated by a computer software system,
CampusNexus, that has frustrated faculty and students.
There are rumblings about low faculty morale and a lack of urgency
from Breitmeyer and the college board to take decisive action to im-
prove enrollment and resolve the software dilemma.
Tim Lyman, who was elected to the college board as a write-in candi-
date in 2019 after no one filed for the position by the deadline, recruit-
ed three candidates to challenge board incumbents. If all three win,
they could help form a majority on the seven-member board.
Patrick Preston, the chal-
lenger, is a retired veterans
employment representative
and military veteran.
• Zone 2, Position 3 (four-year term): Robert Duehmig*
• Zone 3, Position 6 (two-year term): Suzanne Iverson
Sunset Empire Park and Recreation
District Board of Directors
• Position 1 (four-year term): Su Coddington*
• Position 2 (four-year term): Celeste Bodner*
• Position 3 (four-year term): Patrick Duhachek
• Position 4 (two-year term): Erika Marshall Hamer*
• Position 5 (two-year term): Katharine Parker*
*Denotes incumbent
The turnover created an election where all five seats on the board are on the ballot at the
same time. Four of the board members were appointed.
POSITION 1:
SU CODDINGTON
The challengers mobilized over the board’s decision
to purchase the old Broadway Middle School in Janu-
ary for $2.15 million.
With financing spread over two decades, the board
sees the purchase as a bold move to secure prime
space for recreation and child care. But the middle
school, located in the tsunami inundation zone, has
maintenance obstacles that could burden the park
district.
We may discover in a few years that the purchase
was a mistake. That doesn’t mean Archibald and the
board were reckless.
The challengers are right to call for more transparen-
cy about the condition of the property and to insist
on a full public vetting of potential uses. But many of
the arguments about the middle school during the cam-
paign have been overcooked.
The challengers have not provided a clear vision for
what they would do if they win the majority. Instead
of looking backward — and trying to punish board
members for a reasonable decision — we hope voters
look forward.
• Position 1: Appointed in 2020, Su Coddington, a
nurse, is running for a four-year term.
ZONE 2, POSITION 3:
ROBERT DUEHMIG
Al Hernandez, the challenger, is a retired accoun-
tant whose public finance roles included the Sunset
Empire Transportation District.
We endorse Coddington, but we think Hernandez
should stay involved as a budget watchdog.
POSITION 3:
PATRICK DUHACHEK
• Zone 2, Position 3: Ap-
pointed in 2014 and first
elected in 2015, Robert
Duehmig, the board chair-
man, is running for a four-
year term.
• Position 2: Appointed in 2020, Celeste Bodner, the
executive director of FosterClub, a national network
for young people in foster care, is running for a four-
year term.
John Huismann, the challenger, is a retiree in sales,
marketing and management who has been a cham-
pion of improving Sunset Pool.
We endorse Bodner.
ZONE 3, POSITION 6:
SUZANNE IVERSON
Trudy Van Dusen Citovic, the
challenger, is the co-owner
of Van Dusen Beverages,
the owner of Fire Station
Yoga and the co-owner of
The Rosebriar in Astoria. Her
father, Willis Van Dusen, was
the longest-serving mayor of
Astoria.
• Position 3: Elected in 2001, Michael Hinton, a
contractor with a fine arts background, is running for
a four-year term.
Patrick Duhachek, the challenger, is a former U.S. Navy air-
craft maintenance officer and private sector project manager
and logistics engineer who owns Wheel Fun Rentals.
POSITION 4:
ERIKA MARSHALL HAMER
We would have preferred to have them both on the board, but as
they’re competing for the same seat, we endorse Duehmig for his more
extensive policy background.
• Zone 3, Position 6: Appointed in 2019, David Zunkel, a retired phy-
sician who practiced in Washington state, is running for an unexpired
two-year term. Zunkel has served on the college foundation board and
led ENCORE (Exploring New Concepts of Retirement Education), which
promotes lifelong learning for people 50 and over.
Suzanne Iverson, the challenger, is a retiree who worked for 18 years at
the college in community education and workforce training. We think
Iverson would bring a unique historical perspective and an emphasis
on strengthening links between the college and regional businesses.
We respect Hinton’s commitment to the park dis-
trict, his institutional memory and the continuity he
has brought to the board during a time of turmoil.
But a thriving board needs diversity of opinion.
Among the challengers, we believe Duhachek, who
has served on the park district’s budget commit-
tee, is best suited to act as a check on the middle
school and other projects.
We endorse Duhachek.
Our local boards and commissions are often weighted toward retirees.
We are hopeful more people like Duehmig and Van Dusen Citovic will
step forward to serve.
We endorse Iverson.
• Zone 2, Position 2 (four-year term): Sara Meyer*
Roiled by allegations of financial and personal misconduct, the Sunset Empire Park and Rec-
reation District Board of Directors experienced upheaval and resignations over the past few
years.
POSITION 2:
CELESTE BODNER
We endorse Meyer.
Duehmig is the interim
director of the Oregon Office
of Rural Health. He has
experience in health care,
education, labor, government
relations and congressional
politics.
Clatsop Community College Board of Education
PARK DISTRICT BOARD
We think the challengers have raised legitimate questions about the
management of the college. But they have not identified what Breit-
meyer and the board should have done differently to stem the enroll-
ment decline or fix CampusNex-
ZONE 2, POSITION 2:
us sooner. More importantly,
SARA MEYER
they have not said precisely
what they would do if they are
in the majority after the elec-
tion.
• Zone 2, Position 2: Elected
in 2019, Sara Meyer is running
for a four-year term. The retiree
worked at Tongue Point Job
Corps Center and, with her hus-
band, operated The Compleat
Photographer in Astoria. She
previously served on the college
board two decades ago.
ENDORSEMENTS
• Position 4: Appointed in 2020, Erika Marshall Ham-
er, the director of global human resources for Mercy
Corps, is running for an unexpired two-year term.
POSITION 5:
KATHARINE PARKER
Jackie Evans, the challenger, retired after manage-
ment roles at Fred Meyer Jewelers.
We endorse Marshall Hamer, but the park district
could benefit from Evans’ management and fundrais-
ing insight.
• Position 5: Appointed in 2019, Katharine Parker,
the board’s president, is the head secretary at Sea-
side High School. She is running for an unexpired
two-year term.
Stephen Morrison, the challenger, retired after
management roles at trucking companies.
We endorse Parker.