The filling deadline has passed for the Jefferson County special district election that will be held in May. These elections include special districts such as school districts, fire districts, library districts and recreation districts.
The election has two contested positions, and many running unopposed.
One contested position is for the Jefferson County Education Service District at-large position 6, where Heidi Casper, a teacher at Warm Springs K8, and Paul May, Metolius municipal court judge and planning commission president, are both running.
Another contested race is the Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District Director, position 1. The two candidates are Craig Lucas Eads and incumbent Jean McCloskey, both of Madras.
Only a few races remain with no candidates including two seats on the Black Butte School Board, and a seat on the Jefferson County Education Service District representing Black Butte.
The Deschutes Valley Water District still has spots for board members that will be empty on the ballot.
Aside from board and district elections, there are two items on the ballot.
The Black Butte School District is asking residents to allow them to issue $2 million in bonds for maintenance, security and safety upgrades on buildings throughout the district. The estimated annual tax rate would be $1.23 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
One of the more confusing items on the ballot is the measure that asks citizens to dissolve the Jefferson County Emergency Medical Services District, while at the same time elect members to the EMS board.
Dissolving the district is a final piece of housekeeping necessary to complete the merger of Jefferson County Fire & EMS. The two agencies merged under one organization in June of 2022. The measure on the ballot discontinues the board of the EMS.
It is also necessary to field candidates to serve on the EMS board if voters decide not to dissolve the EMS district.
Jefferson County Elections will mail ballots to voters on April 26. Voters must turn in their ballots or have them postmarked by May 16.
