IssuesKEEPING BOND MEASURE PROJECTS ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET
As Campaign Manager for the 2008 Salem-Keizer School Bond, Patrick led a community-wide effort to pass the largest K-12 bond measure in Oregon History. This bond will create jobs, provide urgently needed health and safety repairs to schools across Salem-Keizer and build four new schools to relieve overcrowding. As School Board Director, Patrick will ensure that a citizen oversight committee will help oversee bond projects and make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.
INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OF OUR TAX DOLLARS
In these tough economic times, we need someone who understands public budgets. Patrick has served on the budget committees for the Salem-Keizer School District, Salem Area Mass Transit District, and the Marion Soil & Water Conservation District. He also served as Finance Committee Chair for the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, helping oversee a $15 million budget. As a School Board Director, he'll work to increase accountability and protect our tax dollars at every level of the district, sending any savings directly to the classroom, where it does the most good.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEAD START AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS
As Chief of Staff to State Representative Jean Cowan, Patrick worked with legislators to increase access statewide to Head Start in 2007. As a member of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, Patrick has continued to make sure kids in our community have access to strong pre-kindergarten programs. As a School Board Director, Patrick will make sure that district Head Start programs are first-class so that students are coming to kindergarten ready to learn.
Advisory Team
I'm proud to have a trusted group of advisors to guide me through school board issues during the campaign and my term in office. I've brought together a diverse group of individuals who have a lifetime of experience in education-related issues. My advisors will help allow me to be a School Board Director who can ask the tough questions, understand different aspects of our community, and build coalitions to improve our schools and student achievement.
VIC BACKLUND is a retired educator and former State Legislator. He taught and coached at North Salem and McNary High Schools for over 35 years, leading baseball teams to numerous state championships and was an Oregonian Coach of the Year. As a three-term State Representative, Vic Backlund served as chair of the House Education Committee, leading the state in tough economic times in Oregon. He recently served as co-chair for the Yes for Our Schools Political Action Committee, the campaign to pass the 2008 Salem-Keizer School Bond.
MIKE BASINGER is the owner of Select Impressions, a printing and mail services business in Salem that was honored as the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2007. Mike served on the Salem-Keizer School Board from 1998 to 2008 and helped pass the 1998 Salem-Keizer school bond measure that built 10 new schools to relieve overcrowding.
VICKI BERGER is a four-term State Representative from Salem who is Vice-Chair of the House Rules Committee. She brings small business experience as former owner of West Salem Kinko's and also served on the Salem-Keizer School Board. Vicki also worked on the 1998 Salem-Keizer school bond measure that built 10 new schools to relieve overcrowding. Her and her husband Jerry are past recipients of the Salem First Citizen Award. Jerry serves on the state Board of Education.
MATTHEW BOULAY is an Iraq War Veteran and is a national leader on veterans advocacy. He is the Director of the Fund for Veterans’ Education and the Campaign for a New GI Bill. Prior to going to Iraq, Matthew founded the non-profit summer education program, Teach Baltimore, which has grown into the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. He has taught elementary school, managed scholarship programs, and written on education and veterans’ issues. He lives with his wife and two children in the South Salem High School Area.
PAT COWAN is a retired educator and former superintendent of the Lincoln County School District. He also served as principal of Newport High School. His wife, Jean, is State Representative for House District 10 on the Central Oregon Coast. Pat is involved in the Newport Lions Club and Newport High School Booster Club.
DAN DORN is owner of Sunco Homes & Remodeling, a member of the Homebuilders Association of Marion & Polk Counties and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. Dan served on the Salem-Keizer School District Citizen Facilities Task Force and also on the Yes for Our Schools Political Action Committee, the campaign to pass the 2008 Salem-Keizer School Bond.
ZACH JOHNSTON is a junior at Sprague High School. He is a life-long resident of South Salem. He is active in many school activities including debate. Zach recently served as co-chair for the Yes for Our Schools Political Action Committee, the campaign to pass the 2008 Salem-Keizer School Bond. His father, the late Bryan Johnston, served as a State Representative for Salem and interim President at Willamette University.
ETHAN JONES is a junior at South Salem High School and was recently elected Student Body President for the 2009-2010 school year. He plays varsity soccer.
GREG WARNOCK is the executive director of the Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) and the Military Family Support Foundation. Greg brings experience as a problem solver and visionary. He has a demonstrated interest in providing excellent at-risk programs for academically challenged teens and supports the district’s sports programs. He, his wife, and all five children are graduates of Salem Public Schools, and live in West Salem.
J.L. WILSON is the Vice-President for Associated Oregon Industries, the state's leading business advocacy group. J.L. was the State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business and served as Chief of Staff to two Oregon Speakers of the House - Lynn Snodgrass and Lynn Lundquist. J.L. also served as a Keizer City Councilor from 1999 to 2001.
DICK WITHNELL is the owner of Withnell Motor Company. He is a member of the Marion County Children & Families Commission and on the board of directors for the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley. Dick also served as co-chair for the Yes for Our Schools Political Action Committee, the campaign to pass the 2008 Salem-Keizer School Bond and also led efforts to pass the Chemeketa Community College bond measure in 2008.
