Harnisch, Parker, Guzmán Ortiz, Fuller leading for Salem-Keizer School Board

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7 days ago

Lisa Harnisch, Jennifer Parker, Karina Guzmán Ortiz and Mel Fuller were leading in their races for the Salem-Keizer School Board in early returns May 20.
Eight candidates are running for four open seats, which are in Zone 1, covering West and South Salem; Zone 3, covering Southeast Salem; Zone 5, covering East Salem, and Zone 7, covering Central Salem and Keizer.
The winners will make up the majority of the seven-member board, which is responsible for hiring and evaluating the superintendent and approving the annual budget. The board delegates the day-to-day operations of the second-largest school district, with 38,000 students, to the superintendent.
Although the races are nonpartisan, two political action committees are largely funding opposing slates of candidates for each seat.
One slate is backed by Community for Salem-Keizer Schools, a coalition of the district's labor unions, Stand for Children, Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter of Oregon AFL-CIO, Racial Justice Organizing Committee and PCUN, Oregon's farmworker union.
It includes Lisa Harnisch in Zone 1, Angelo Arredondo Baca in Zone 3, Karina Guzmán Ortiz in Zone 5, and Mel Fuller in Zone 7. Their campaigns are largely funded by PCUN.
The other slate is funded by Marion+Polk First, which says it supports 'center-right candidates and causes,' and Oregon Right to Life, which opposes abortion.
It includes Anthony Mitchell in Zone 1, Jennifer Parker in Zone 3, Jason Kroker in Zone 5 and Jeremiah Radka in Zone 7.
David Kilada, former political director of Oregon Right to Life, is helping manage those candidates' campaigns. Kilada now runs Intisar Strategies, a political consulting firm dedicated to center-right candidates and issues.
As of May 19, the eight candidates had raised a total of $277,116 in campaign contributions and spent $240,274, according to Oregon Secretary of State campaign finance records.
Lisa Harnisch was leading Anthony Mitchell in the race for Salem-Keizer School Board Zone 1.
'There are still many ballots left to count, and I believe every vote should be heard. I'll wait for final results before saying more, but I remain proud of the campaign we built together,' Harnisch said.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the support I've received and the chance to earn our community's trust," Mitchell said. "With many ballots still being counted—and more on the way—my family and I are eagerly awaiting the final results to be published.'
Harnisch has been involved with the Salem-Keizer School District for more than two decades, serving on the former Salem Keizer Education Foundation's board, chairing the Awesome 3000 youth fun run for a dozen years, and serving on the district's budget committee, bond oversight committee and long-range facility task force.
In her professional life, Harnisch is executive director of the nonprofit Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub and co-president of the Oregon Early Learning Hub Association. She previously held leadership roles in the state's Early Learning Division, Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority.
In March 2024, she was appointed to the district's Zone 1 position, filling a vacancy created the previous month when board member Osvaldo Avila resigned, citing family reasons.
Harnisch has raised $51,835 and has spent $44,846. Her largest donors are Community for Salem-Keizer Schools PAC, PCUN and Stand for Children Oregon PAC.
Mitchell and his wife have lived in Salem for six years. He is director, customer success at Solera, which builds software applications for commercial customers. He previously worked as vice-president of Trak Management.
Mitchell holds a bachelor's degree from Utah State University and is a former board member of the Washougal (Wash.) Schools Foundation.
Mitchell said his highest priority is student outcomes. He also said he is concerned about teachers feeling like the sand is constantly shifting under their feet, with new initiatives every year.
Mitchell has raised $39,820 and has spent $37,007. His largest donors are Marion Polk First PAC, Oregon Right to Life PAC and Dick Withnell.
Jennifer Parker had a slight lead over Angelo Arredondo Baca in the race for Salem-Keizer School Board Zone 3.
'I'm incredibly thankful for everyone who's reached out, supported me, or shared their hopes for our schools. The early results are encouraging, but more than anything, I'm grateful for this experience as we wait for all ballots to be returned and counted,' Parker said.
'This race is incredibly close, and there are still many ballots to be counted. I remain hopeful and proud of the movement we built together,' Arredondo Baca said. 'As everyone, I am waiting on more results to come in.'
Arredondo Baca graduated from South Salem High School in 2020, has an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College, and expects to receive a bachelor's degree in political science from Oregon State University this year.
He is working as an office assistant while attending school, and previously has worked as a library clerk, field organizer, legislative chair for the Oregon Student Association, policy director for Associated Students of Oregon State University and as a tutor.
Arredondo Baca served on the Salem Human Rights Commission from 2018 to 2023, on the Oregon Secretary of State's Translation Advisory Council from 2022 to 2024, and currently serves on Oregon State University's Student Fee Committee.
Arredondo Baca has raised $29,939 and has spent $20,591. His largest donors are Community for Salem-Keizer Schools PAC, Stand for Children Oregon PAC and PCUN.
Parker is an employment service manager for the nonprofit Work Unlimited. She previously worked at the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Water Resources Department.
Parker graduated from South Salem High School, received an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College, and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Western Oregon University. She has no prior governmental experience.
Parker has raised $42,550 and has spent $39,828. Her largest donors are Marion Polk First PAC, Oregon Right to Life PAC and Dick Withnell.
Karina Guzmán Ortiz was leading Jason Kroker in the race for Salem-Keizer School Board Zone 5.
'It's been an honor to see the support I've received and I'm proud of the campaign we've run. It's a close race, and with many ballots still coming in, I'm hopeful we will make a positive change for our school district,' Kroker said.
Guzmán Ortiz was first elected to the school board in 2021. She served as board chair during the 2023-24 school year, when the district had a new superintendent while facing difficult budget cuts and contentious contract negotiations with both of its worker unions.
Guzmán Ortiz is a partner engagement specialist at the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care.
She has an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College, a bachelor's degree in social science from Western Oregon University, and a master's degree in social work from Portland State University.
Guzmán Ortiz started her campaign with a $7,200 carryover from her previous race. She has raised $27,070 this year and has spent $19,521. Her largest donors are Community for Salem-Keizer Schools PAC, PCUN, and Stand for Children Oregon PAC.
Kroker was born and raised in Salem, graduating from North Salem High School. He served four years in the Air Force, then received an associate's degree from Chemeketa Community College and a bachelor's degree from Western Oregon University. During college, he worked a semester as a campus monitor at North Salem.
He served in the Oregon Air National Guard while working a variety of jobs, including as a marine electrician with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is currently a heavy equipment technician for the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Kroker has raised $44,564 and spent $42,725. His largest donors are Marion Polk First PAC, Oregon Right to Life PAC and Dick Withnell.
Mel Fuller was leading Jeremiah Radka in the race for Salem-Keizer School Board Zone 7.
"I'm honored and humbled by the trust the community has placed in me. As a parent, a volunteer and someone who has spent years working in service to families, I know how much our schools mean to this community," Fuller said.
"I ran to make sure every student feels like they belong and can thrive, and that's exactly what I intend to do on the board," she said.
'This campaign has been about putting students and parents first, and I've been honored by the encouragement from so many across our community," Radka said.
"With many ballots still to be counted, I remain hopeful and trust that voters will make clear whether they're ready for change or content with the status quo," he said. "And with Oregon's vote-by-mail system, ballots postmarked by Election Day still count — so early projections don't always tell the full story. I'm eager to hear what voters have to say.'
Fuller has lived in Salem for 15 years and has two children in district schools, where she volunteers three days a week.
Fuller is a self-employed legal transcriptionist. She also has worked as a program manager for Marion Polk Food Share's Meals on Wheels, has held leadership positions at a number of assisted living facilities, and worked as a seasonal park ranger for Oregon State Parks.
Fuller has previously served as an advisory council member for Northwest Senior and Disability Services, for Center 50+ and for the Salem Public Library.
She attended Linn-Benton Community College before receiving a bachelor's degree in history from Oregon State University.
Fuller has raised $41,338 and has spent $35,756. Community for Salem-Keizer Schools PAC, PCUN and Stand for Children Oregon PAC.
Radka lists his occupation as private for-hire transportation. He previously spent 20 years in IT networking, including owning a small IT business.
Radka holds an associate's degree in applied science from Linn-Benton Community College and attended Portland Community College. He has no prior governmental experience.
Radka has raised $39,195 and spent $36,948. His largest donors are Marion Polk First PAC, Oregon Right to Life PAC and Dick Withnell.
Tracy Loew covers education and the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: [e-mail] or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Election results: Voters deciding Salem-Keizer School Board members