Two members of the Alsea School Board faced a recall election this week. According to unofficial results, it appears to be a success.
The recall targeted Alsea School Board Chair Ron Koetz and Vice Chair Jeff Davis. Max Hildenbrand petitioned for the recall. In his statement, he says Koetz and Davis, “failed to represent the public interest” by approving a resolution in January that made masking indoors optional in the schools, despite a state mandate requiring masks.
The recall petition said the decision ”placed the children, teachers, staff and community at risk of catching Covid-19.”
Then-Superintendent Marc Thielman, who has since resigned to run for governor, had initiated the resolution to make masks optional indoors. In the unofficial results, both recalls appear to be passing. But the Benton County Clerk says the votes won’t be certified until April 25.
Preliminary results show that about 56% of the ballots cast voted in favor of recalling Koetz while 55% voted to recall Davis. About 48% of the eligible voters in the district cast ballots, but more could remain to be counted.