Kohnstamm Beats Regan for PPS Board—Plus Other Schools Election Results

Kohnstamm won 44 percent of the vote compared to Regan's 41 percent. Two other candidates split the remaining vote.

Kohnstamm's won't be the only new face on the PPS board. Last night's election ushered in three other newbie directors, as PPS board members are called. Their arrival promises to shake up a board that for years has deferred power to Superintendent Carole Smith.

"There's a very exciting sense of urgency this board will bring to the work of getting results for our students," says Kohnstamm.

Regan tells WW she's grateful to have had the opportunity to serve PPS for 12 years. "It really is a privilege," she says.

Paul Anthony beat José González 54 percent to 28 percent. Anthony will replace Matt Morton on the board.

Julie Esparza Brown beat Andrew Davidson 77 percent to 22 percent. Esparza Brown will replace Ruth Adkins on the board.

And Mike Rosen, who had no opponent, won with 98 percent of the vote. He will replace Greg Belisle.

In other election news:

Michael Sonnleitner, a longtime Portland Community College professor, edged out incumbent Courtney Wilton to take a seat on the PCC board that just fired its president.

In the one contested race in the Parkrose School District, Dave Carter won 61 percent of the vote. Opponent Joshua Singleton got 38 percent.

There were no contested races in the David Douglas School District.

Two seats were up for grabs on the board of the Multnomah Education Service District, which also has a search on its hands. MESD ousted its superintendent in March.

Siobhan Burke beat Kay Bridges with 74 percent of the votes for a seat on the MESD board.

Stephen Marc Beaudoin ousted incumbent Doug Montgomery, 55 percent to 35 percent.