Astoria School District

In Astoria, incumbents Grace Laman and Jenna Rickenbach are running unopposed to keep their seats in Positions 1 and 5.

Laman, a clinical dietitian at Providence Seaside Hospital and an adjunct professor of nutrition at Clatsop Community College, has been on the school board since 2013. Rickenbach, who works as an office manager at Rickenbach Construction and serves on the ClatsopWORKS internships program committee, has been on the school board for 10 years. Both have had children graduate from the district, and have said they’re committed to continuing to serve the needs of students.

Meanwhile, four different candidates are vying for Position 4: Karl B. Hellberg, Susan Prettyman Hartill, Holly Marsh and Tyler Lyngstad. The position is currently held by Jeanette Sampson, whose term ends this June.

Hellberg, a private investigator at Hellberg Investigations, has two children in the district and has served as the chairman of the Astoria School District Budget Committee and as a member of the Astoria School District strategic planning committee. He brings a background as a commercial fisherman and U.S. Coast Guard captain. He sees his experience leading diverse teams in developing and executing strategic plans as an asset to the board, especially as districts across Oregon navigate financial shortfalls.

Prettyman Hartill is the deputy director at The Harbor. She’s also served as a member of the Astoria School District Budget Committee. Through her career in social services, she’s worked with numerous families facing challenges — from poverty and food insecurity to homelessness. She said she believes those struggles directly impact students’ ability to learn, and is committed to creating a school environment where students not only survive, but thrive.

Marsh, a small-business owner, is the president of the Astoria Middle School Parents Club. She also serves on the Astoria School District strategic planning committee and on the patient and family advisory council at Columbia Memorial Hospital.

“I’m running for school board because I believe every student deserves a learning environment that is inclusive, supportive, and focused on their success,” Marsh wrote in an email. “As a neurodivergent parent, I’m particularly passionate about ensuring that all students — especially those with unique needs — have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”

Lyngstad, the recreation manager for the city of Astoria’s Parks and Recreation Department, has a host of previous experience with district, including as a special education instructional assistant at Lewis and Clark Elementary School, a ninth grade on-track coach at Astoria High School and the head JV baseball and head JV football coach at Astoria High School. He said his goal is to support students and focus on efforts to recruit, retain, and train quality staff.

“I have a profound appreciation for our community and its core values. I aim to uphold these traditional values while also welcoming new, innovative ideas that can enhance our educational framework,” Lyngstad wrote.

Seaside School District

In Seaside, two commissioners are running unopposed for reelection.

Brian Taylor, owner of Bruce’s Candy Kitchen in Cannon Beach, has served on the Seaside School Board for 12 years and is the current board chair. He said he’s running for Zone 2 Position 2 to continue advocating for students in the district. Katherine Davidson, a nurse manager, is running for reelection to Zone 6, Position 2.

In Zone 3, Position 1, Chuck Mattocks and Trissa Como will face off on the May ballot. Mattocks, a retired teacher, said he’s interested in listening to the broader community, acting in the best interests of students and encouraging a strong family engagement model. Como said she believes that having parents on the school board is a must, and she wants to see the children in her community succeed.

In Zone 7, Position 1, Alex Carney and Jason Haag are vying for an open seat. Haag is the senior director of operations at a publicly traded solar technology company, with two decades of experience managing budgets and operations. He’s spent three years on the Seaside School District Budget Committee.

“Public service has taught me that accountability is not punitive but empowering, providing stakeholders with shared expectations and clarity. I want to ensure every dollar invested yields tangible benefits for our students’ academic, social, and emotional growth,” Haag said in an email.

Carney is an account manager with nearly 20 years experience in the language services industry. He said he’s committed to working hard for all members of the community and public schools so children are equipped to “flourish in a world that is rapidly evolving.”

Knappa School District

In Knappa, Cullen Bangs and Michelle Finn are running for reelection in Positions 3 and 5, respectively. Bangs, a forest roads manager with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Astoria district, has served on the school board since 2009. Finn, an executive recruiter, is running for her second term.

Two other candidates — Christa Jasper and Hannah Bryan — will be on the ballot for Position 4.

Jasper, the incumbent, is a sales director at Mary Kay Global. She has served on the board since 2021. She has been a parent and volunteer in the district for 15 years and a substitute teacher for eight. Having four children in the district, she said she understands the importance of parental rights in education, adding that she believes in “practical solutions and ensuring a safe, healthy, and fun learning environment for all.”

Bryan has worked for the county in assessment and taxation for nearly two years, and has more than 16 years of experience working for an IT company.

“I am running because I know that even though our district may face challenges, it is filled with some of the most caring and supportive people I have had the privilege of meeting. I want to help make our school district better for all of the kids within it,” she said in a statement to The Astorian.

Jewell School District

In Jewell, three candidates — all current board members running unopposed — will be on the ballot.

Board Chair TJ Hecox, a supervisor for the Clatsop County Road Department, will be running for his second term in Position 4. Having raised his family in the Jewell Valley, he said he’s invested in the future of the district, especially as it works through funding uncertainties spurred by the state’s habitat conservation plan.

Michael Wammack, a shop and fleet manager currently serving in Position 2, has been on the board for eight years. He said he’s attended board conferences and trainings and studied board-related laws to provide the best possible service to his community, and believes in supporting students and staff and holding staff accountable.

Jan Songer, an underwriter, was appointed to Position 5 last June. She began attending school board meetings after moving to the area in 2018, and later served on the district’s budget committee. She said she understands the important role a school plays in the community, especially in a rural area like Jewell.

Clatsop Community College

Three positions on Clatsop Community College’s Board of Education will appear on this election’s ballot. Current board members Sheila Roley and Ashley Flukinger are running for two of those positions unopposed.

Flukinger, a Seaside-based attorney, has been on the board for over a year in Zone 3, Position 5. She also serves on the Sunset Park and Recreation Foundation Board, the Seaside Rotary Foundation Board, the Pacific Basketball League Board and the Seaside Hall of Fame Board, and coaches seventh-grade girls’ basketball at Seaside Middle School. Roley is a retired public educator who spent years in the Seaside School District, including in principal and superintendent positions. She was appointed to Zone 2, Position 3 in February following the resignation of another board member.

In Zone 2, Position 2, incumbent Mitra Vazeen is facing a challenge from Morgan Bates. Vazeen, a small-business owner, has been on the board since 2023. She brings a background in management and leadership at educational institutions, including past experience as vocational programs manager at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center, a substitute teacher for the Astoria School District and an adjunct instructor at Clatsop Community College. She said she’s dedicated to ensuring the college remains competitive in its course offerings and improving the college’s community relations and engagement.

Bates is a student studying natural resources at Clatsop Community College set to graduate in June. She is also the treasurer for the college’s associated student government.

“I want to give back by serving the community, which has done so much to support me. My fresh perspective of being a recent alumni brings a strong student-focused energy to help the CCC Board of Education better understand what the school needs as it navigates current and future challenges,” Bates said in a statement to The Astorian.