Danielle Bethell and Chuck Lee
Danielle Bethell’s bid to oust long-serving Salem-Keizer School Board director Chuck Lee appeared to have paid off according to unofficial results with all precincts accounted for in the election Tuesday, May 21.
Bethell was leading with 52 percent of the vote to Chuck Lee’s 45 percent in Zone 6. Bethell, who is also executive director of the Keizer Chamber of Commerce, will serve a four-year term. Lee has served on the board since 2007.
In Zone 4, Satya Chandrigiri and David Salinas vied for the seat being vacated by Jim Green. Chandrigiri, who ran on a largely single-issue platform of suicide prevention, was leading Salinas with 51 percent of the vote to 46 percent.
Marty Heyen, director for Zone 2, fended off challenger Raul Marquez. Heyen led in the unofficial results with 52 percent of the vote to Marquez’s 45 percent.
Diane Watson retained her seat on the Chemeketa Community College Board of Directors in Zone 6. Watson faced a challenge from Art Witkowski. Watson won with 43 percent of the vote to Witkowski’s 34 percent, but more than 22 percent of returned ballots didn’t have a selection in this race.
Three Keizer Fire District board members – Chet Patterson, Greg Ego and Betty Hart – ran unopposed to retain their seats at the table.
Only slightly more than 19 percent of registered voters returned ballots in the election.