Newcomer Mindy Allison wins close race, will join Polly Peterson, Debbie Hawblitzel and Melinda Van Bossuyt 

In one of the most crowded Newberg School District board elections in recent memory, both incumbents candidates prevailed, while newcomer Mindy Allison narrowly defeated Jennifer Fisher in an open race between two first-time candidates. 

In Zone 2, current board vice president Polly Peterson defeated Walter Woodland for the second consecutive time, garnering 2,505 votes (77 percent) to Woodland’s 727 (22.3 percent), according to unofficial results posted by the Yamhill County Clerk following Tuesday’s election. Peterson also defeated Woodland in 2011, but this year, Woodland did not actively seek to be elected, but rather put his name on the ballot on democratic principal so that voters would be given a choice. 

The board’s other incumbent in a contested race, Debbie Hawblitzel, was elected to a third full term in Zone 7 with 56.5 percent of the vote, defeating former Congressional candidate Jason Yates 1,869 to 1,424. Hawblitzel was first appointed to the board in 2005 before defeating Michael Richter in 2007 and running unopposed in 2011. 

Allison, an accounting and office manager who also volunteers in the district, defeated fellow parent and current budget committee member Jennifer Fisher 1,648 to 1,447 in the closest race. Allison won 52.8 percent of the vote to Fisher’s 46.3 in Zone 6 and will replace longtime board member Mitsi Vondrachek, who is stepping down after 16 years of service. 

Melinda Van Bossuyt, who is the board’s longest serving member at 18 years, ran unopposed in Zone 3, garnering 2,665 votes or 97.9 percent.

Written by Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic