The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG—Pam Chapman narrowly defeated incumbent Randy Hinchliffe for the Waitsburg School Director position #5. Chapman received 51.91% of the vote total, while Hinchliffe drew 46.81%; there were three write-in votes.

Chapman stated, “I was completely surprised and very pleased to hear I received majority support for the position on the school board. And I would like to thank the Waitsburg Community for that support .

I  am ready to help in any manner necessary to  continue maintaining a  successful school district,  with our unified team of teachers/ educations, and administrators. 

I would love to get more community involvement with our schools. Making sure community members who do not have children or grandchildren enrolled in our schools are aware of activities that happen at the school to support the kids as well as supporting the school.”

Kevin Lee Chabre received 60.32% of the votes to defeat incumbent Karen Tonne who drew 39.68% for School Director District 3 in the Prescott School District race. Chabre is a wheat rancher who has two young children. He took some time out from a planned trip to the Portland Zoo to remark, “I’m excited to work with the rest of the board, there will be two new board members, as Preston Brock was also elected as he ran unopposed. I am going to have to learn more about the position, but I’m looking forward to getting to work.”

Both the Prescott and the Waitsburg Parks and Recreation Levys passed, providing both towns with funding for community projects. Prescott’s levy passed with a 68.8% yes vote, while Waitsburg’s achieved a 60% yes vote, the minimum needed to go forward.