By Vivi Tallman, Lane deMoll & Barbara McLaughlin
The ultra-conservative political movement to take over elected boards across our state and nation is gaining traction in Tillamook County. Next week, ballots for the May 16 election will arrive in our mailboxes. While usually this “special district” election consists of candidates running unopposed for positions in sanitary districts, water districts, fire boards, and school districts, this year is very different: the majority of board positions in our county school districts are contested. Three out of five Tillamook Bay Community College (TBCC) seats are contested, and for voters in north Tillamook County there is action going on in elections for the Boards of the North County Recreation District (NCRD), the Nehalem Bay Health District, Neahkahnie School District and the Tillamook County Transportation District.
Who are these new candidates, and what has inspired them to run? You can get the flavor of many of the candidates opposing incumbents here through the website and Facebook page of We the People Tillamook County which states: “Get involved in your community! Stopping tyranny at the local level dominoes to the federal level. Let no elected official go unchecked.” https://wethepeopletillamookcounty.com/home Read the newsletter on this site, with articles titled “Gender Indoctrination in Tillamook County Schools: Your Tax Dollars Hard at Work.” This month’s newsletter (currently on their Facebook page but not yet on their website) includes “What is the Function of the Public Library?” as well as candidate statements from selected candidates. It is also useful to look at websites for some statewide organizations with similar views, such as these two: https://www.oregonmomsunion.com/ and https://oregonabigailadams.wordpress.com/
For statements from all candidates, you can visit the Tillamook County Pioneer site https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/2023-may-special-election-tillamook-county-pioneers-questions-for-the-candidates-tillamook-bay-community-college/ To see who is running in each race visit Tillamook County Clerk’s site https://www.co.tillamook.or.us/clerk/elections/clone-2023-may-special-election. And a new organization called Tillamook Retired Educators and Teachers has posted endorsements for many of the races at https://www.tillamookretiredteachers.org/
Upcoming on April 27, the AAUW is hosting a candidate’s virtual forum for school districts and the community college positions. https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/virtual-candidates-forum-hosted-by-aauw-april-27th-school-boards-tbcc-board-candidates/
Hopefully this forum will provide what has so far been missing, which is an open and transparent statement from these new candidates about their beliefs and goals. If they object to the current mission of our schools or a special district, we need to know that. We want candidates that have put in the time and energy to attend board meetings, learn first-hand about the work of these organizations, and demonstrated in their public life that they are respectful of all voices. What values guide these new candidates? Have they been regularly attending these meetings? Are they experienced in the field? Are they dedicated to respectful behavior?
Read, research, talk to your neighbors, VOTE!