Meet the Salem-Keizer School Board Zone 6 candidates: Here's where they stand

Three seats on the Salem-Keizer School Board are up for election May 21 with six candidates in the running after meeting Thursday's filing deadline.

Mental health support, school funding and expanded opportunities for students were among the priorities cited by the candidates in a Statesman Journal survey. School safety and improving graduation rates were other common goals.

Board members are elected to serve four-year terms without pay. Though they each represent specific zones, the board is responsible for working together to serve all 42,200-plus students in Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

Read below to get to know the candidates for Zone 6, and where they stand on the issues. 

MEET THE ZONE 2 CANDIDATES:Raul Marquez Guerrero and Marty Heyen

MEET THE ZONE 4 CANDIDATES:Satya Chandragiri and David Salinas

Danielle Bethell

• Age: 40
• City/town of residence: Keizer
• Family: Husband, Nathan. Son, Joel. Daughters, Natalie and Raegan. 
• Education: McKay High School grad. Oregon State University grad, B.S. 
• Current employment: Executive Director, Keizer Chamber of Commerce. Responsible for the daily needs and operations of the organization. I execute the goals and policies of the 13 member board of directors.
• How the public can reach your campaign: https://bethellforkids.com/

Are you currently a full-time resident within the boundaries of the specific zone you seek to represent?

Yes

Number of current, consecutive years living within the zone you seek to represent: 

Four

Previous employers:

Marion County Fire District #1, Oregon Parent Training & Info Center.

Military experience:

N/A

Volunteer/civic/religious experience:

Served on several boards: National Indian training/info center, Salem/Keizer Pop Warner, Keizer Rotary, McNary High School Athletic Booster President.

Volunteer experience: McNary High School and McKay High School athletic booster clubs, turf project coordinator, Keizer Little League field project coordinator, field #6 rebuild, Oregon Judicial Department Citizen Review Board.

Please list all public offices to which you’ve been elected, and when:

N/A

Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when:

N/A

Other prior political and government or school district experience:

N/A

To an outsider, how would you describe the region you wish to represent — geographically, economically, politically and socially?

Keizer is a wonderful town of just under 40,000 residents, but the feel of our community is pretty small-townesque. We have 10 public school, one high school, two middle schools and seven elementary schools. We have a high level of community spirit.

Our town motto is "Pride, Spirit and Volunteerism." We are neighbors to the Salem area, on the North and northeast ends. We have a mix of household incomes and a diverse citizenship. Keizer is an amazing community that gives of itself. When a hand is needed, one is more often than not offered. Keizer is a friendly, welcoming place to live. 

Describe the positives and negatives of this region/zone that you wish to represent or address:

The only negatives are the lack of affordable housing and access to buildable land.

There are many positives. We have a very friendly business community, many local parks, a comfortable feel for children to live and play among, and we have an outstanding partnership with anyone in or outside of the area. Our high school has a great "Friday night lights" feel during football season, and you will see local seniors at many of the basketball or baseball games because that's what they have always done. 

What specific skills or experiences do you have that would make you effective in this office?

I have been an active participant in the Salem-Keizer School District for several years. As a parent volunteer, a community servant and most recently, a voice and connection for businesses. I have many relationships within our schools and our communities that allow me to see an opportunity and make a connection or suggest a solution.

I have a proven track record of taking on large projects, rallying my community and succeeding at the task, leading the charge for both the turf projects at McNary in 2014-15 and then again at McKay in 2016-17. As well as a retaining the wall project at the Little League field, or the fundraising and project oversight for the Little League Field #6 rebuild after it saw severe vandalism in 2014-15. I enjoy bringing people together to focus on a common task that supports our space.

What separates you from your opponent?

I am different than my opponent in many ways. I am very much interested in being present in my community, building ground-level relationships, navigating emotions and working toward solutions. I enjoy a challenge and the opportunity to overcome it. My approach isn't to wait for a problem to come to me, I am more interested in being present as often as I can and share in conversations and be aware when something needs to be addressed. I enjoy being in schools, at events and activities and just simply being a part of the community I am raising my children in.

I also think we are different in how we approach solutions. I am less interested in waiting for ideas and issues to rise to the level of the board and then receiving them through a filtered process. I believe to be fully aware, one must be involved at the beginning, to some degree. To be known in my community and approachable. 

How much will your campaign cost? How is it funded? 

I can't say for sure how much the campaign will cost, but I have been advised it could reach into the thousands of dollars. My campaign this far has been funded from individuals who are supporting me with individual donations from the community and I don't foresee that changing. 

Have you ever been convicted of a crime, been disciplined by a professional licensing board/organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? If so, please give the details.

No

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your taxes or other major accounts, or been sued personally or professionally? If so, please give the details. 

Yes. During the 2008 economic downturn, my husband I were both laid off from our jobs and filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy to save our family home. This is definitely one of the toughest decisions we worked through during those years. 

What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how?

Mental health and behaviors is a big concern for me. Our students need not turn to suicide to handle their issues. We need to be better at all the areas that encourage students to connect and overcome. We also need to be better at finding ways to teach students to communicate, and also learn there are consequences to their actions, and find accountability in them.

We need to take a long look at the funding sources in the district and figure out why the classrooms are struggling so much. We seem to blame PERS for everything. I need to understand why that is the only financial burden. If it's not, then we need to figure out what needs to be addressed or balanced and balance it!

I want to work on bringing more voices to the conversations. Parents, teachers, community should all be working together to grow happy, healthy, achieving students, in a district that is by far the best, since it is almost the biggest! 

How would you deal with apathy or people in your zone not wishing to interact with the board?

I think people don't interact because they either don't see the point, or don't realize their influence. Just like now, I would continue to be present and participate in my community, ask questions and encourage people to respond. In my experience, people respond when asked to. Again, I believe relationships are key, when they exist and are called upon, a response is usually provided. 

Is there any other information that you should disclose before it comes up in the campaign? Anything (including health issues) that would affect your ability to serve your full term? Any changes in your life situation that are contemplated or expected before the election or before you would take office?

No

Anything else you want readers to know?

Yes! I want readers to know I do not take this role lightly. I have been a parent in this district for more than a decade, and I was a student in it a short-ish while before that. There isn't a person that knows me who would tell you I don't have anything but the best interests of my community and the children at heart.

I may not have all the answers, but I am sure not afraid to ask the question, research and work to get them. I love working in and with my community. There is not a better volunteer task ahead of me and I very much look forward to taking the next step in my community volunteerism to this level. It would be an honor to be a voice for my neighbors and friends, and I very much look forward to what I will be able to learn and then share as I grow in the position. It is time for a new approach and perspective in Zone 6. Nothing changes if nothing changes! 

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Chuck Lee

• Age: 69
• City/town of residence: Keizer
• Family: My wife is Krina Lee, also a long time Salem-Keizer education leader. We have six children and 11 grandchildren between us. Krina’s daughters attended Salem-Keizer Schools K-12 and we have one grandson in elementary school in Salem-Keizer.
• Education: I graduated from Seattle Public Schools and the University of Washington with a major in journalism. After graduation, I taught in the Edmonds School District and received my Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Seattle University.
• Current employment: In 2013, I was hired by Mt. West Investment Corp. to create the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) in Salem. Currently, I maintain offices at Blanchet and CTEC.
• How the public can reach your campaign: Email chuckleeschoolboard@gmail.com or call 503-551-5661

Are you currently a full-time resident within the boundaries of the specific zone you seek to represent?

Yes

Number of current, consecutive years living within the zone you seek to represent: 

20 (estimated) 

Previous employers:

Blanchet Catholic School and Mt. West Investment Corp. At the age of 25 I became the Principal of an inner city Catholic school and began a 40-year career as the principal or president of five different Catholic schools. I then became the President of Blanchet Catholic School in 1997. ​​​

Military experience:

None

Volunteer/civic/religious experience:

I am a member of St. Edward Catholic Church in Keizer. I am a member of the Rotary Club of Keizer and serve on the Marion County Children and Families Commission.

Please list all public offices to which you’ve been elected, and when:

Keizer City Council in 2001 and 2005

Salem-Keizer School Board in 2007, 2011 and 2015

Appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to the Oregon Ethics Committee in 2016

Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when:

Oregon State Representative, 2006 and 2014; Mayor of Keizer, 2002.

Other prior political and government or school district experience:

I was honored by the National Catholic Education Association in 2009 for significant contributions to education, and the administrative building at CTEC is named in my honor. My wife, Krina, and I were honored by the Keizer Chamber of Commerce in 2014 with the Outstanding Service to Education Award.

To an outsider, how would you describe the region you wish to represent — geographically, economically, politically and socially?

Keizer is set in the heart of the Willamette Valley, North of Salem. Keizer, like the entire district is economically diverse with a very unique culture of independence and pride. Keizer residents and business owners fiercely protect this culture and have grown their employment and household base because of this. Keizer does not necessarily reflect the same economic and social demographics of the rest of the district, but embraces the opportunity to celebrate this diversity.

Describe the positives and negatives of this region/zone that you wish to represent or address:

The motto for the city of Keizer is "Pride, Spirit and Volunteerism." While on the city council, I championed this motto to be permanently indoctrinated into the culture and policies of the city. There is a fountain with this motto on it that I led the efforts for at the corner of Chemawa and River Road. I would wish that this positive and empowering message would resonate with all of our school communities and drive an engagement process that would support all children.

What specific skills or experiences do you have that would make you effective in this office?

I have been involved in education for 47 years. I have served on the Salem-Keizer School Board for 12 years and lived in Keizer for 20 years. During my tenure as an elected official serving Oregon's second largest school district, I have been a collaborative and strong leader securing two bond measures that impact the teaching and learning cultures for all children, brought all-day kindergarten to our schools and seen the hiring of our current Superintendent.

I have served on the budget committees and the Claggett Creek middle school national model for counseling committee, among others. I have a 96 percent attendance record in the last four years serving and pride myself in being involved in work sessions, public listening sessions and planning meetings. My ability to bring foundations, businesses, industry, government entities and individuals to develop CTEC has produced a first-class CTE educational institution for our school district, city and state.

What separates you from your opponent?

Experience — a record of collaborative and transparent leadership; a 12 year record of informed, data drive decision making; and a record of innovative practices that support academic achievement for all.

How much will your campaign cost? How is it funded?

To date, I have raised $8,000 through private and corporate contributions.

Have you ever been convicted of a crime, been disciplined by a professional licensing board/organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? If so, please give the details.

No

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your taxes or other major accounts, or been sued personally or professionally? If so, please give the details.

No

What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how?

1. Budget — Oregon's process for budgeting is so closely tied to the economy, making school funding very unpredictable. With this extreme volatility, it makes long-term planning very difficult. When our district makes a 5-10 year plan for improvement, it is often interrupted by budget instability.

2. Achievement Gap — While our graduation rates have been improving, the rates continue to fluctuate among our most vulnerable and underrepresented students. Our efforts to address chronic absenteeism, add career and technical education programs, equity and access are examples of addressing the gap.

3. Systems of Support — We must address the growing mental health and toxic stress issues of our students. We have heard at many board meetings from community members, teachers and parents about the behavioral outbursts that disrupt the learning environment. We are implementing a series of strategies to train administrators, teachers and staff that will help all students, including those with disabilities, English language learners, social-emotional issues, students of color and those living in poverty. Implementing and communicating this framework will take time and focus.

How would you deal with apathy or people in your zone not wishing to interact with the board?

It is important to remember that our board, while representing specific zones, are elected and serve the entire school district. This covers Salem, Keizer, Marion and Polk Counties. Once elected, I am committed to serving the entire district.

I have done this by speaking and attending civic groups (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.), neighborhood associations, Chambers of Commerce. While I have been committed to being visible and supporting these organizations efforts, I realize that we must meet people where they are. This may mean being accessible and a listening advocate at parent clubs and community coffees.

Is there any other information that you should disclose before it comes up in the campaign? Anything (including health issues) that would affect your ability to serve your full term? Any changes in your life situation that are contemplated or expected before the election or before you would take office?

No

Anything else you want readers to know?

I am open and accessible. Please contact me with any questions.

For more information on the May election, go to www.co.marion.or.us/CO/elections.

Contact reporter Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745 or follow her on Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.