An uncontested election

Anyone looking for bettors willing to wager on the outcome of local elections probably couldn’t find any takers this spring. That’s because challengers didn’t choose to file as candidates in open board of directors seats for a number of area governing bodies. Despite that, several candidates responded to a request to share their views with voters.

McKenzie School Board incumbent Elaine Bryson feels students have been making strides in academics since COVID and the Holiday Farm Fire disruptions. She’s a supporter of rural schools who notes that McKenzie reflects “our small community, where we all help each other.” One example is the recently adopted policy to include a non-voting student member of the board.

While enrollment is on the rise, Bryson says she hopes the state legislature passes the Wildfire Relief Funding extension to support rural areas like the McKenzie Valley, where “people wish for the school to be safe, maintain its current programs and continue to be here for our students and community.”

Being small and close-knit “also means that our students are seen and heard,” she says.

Appointed in 2023, and also running to continue on the school board is Dana Burwell who says while he hasn’t met everyone, he’s “seen some great work by staff and teachers.” He said he’s been impressed by kids “learning about the importance of watersheds and maintaining the habitat for fish and wildlife as well as stock market simulations to learn about investing. “On Fridays when the kids are out of school, some go into town to learn building construction and the trades. These kids will probably have a good paying job as soon as they graduate,” he notes.

Burwell agrees there are many challenges related to fire recovery and sees another issue related to the fact that “most of our buildings are over 80 years old and require a huge amount of maintenance. Many need to be replaced in the near future,” he feels. “In the current environment where grants are drying up, we are hoping to find some way to remodel or replace some of the buildings,” he adds.

The third incumbent appearing on the 2025 school ballot is Melissa Norlund.

Downriver, at McKenzie Fire & Rescue, Ray Byrne says his overall impression of how the department not only impresses him but is “also the reason I’m applying for the board.” He rates the district’s leadership as “fantastic,” and credits that as a plus for an area where 90 percent of the organization’s support comes from “community trust.”

One of the biggest challenges the district faces, Byrne feels, is the amount of area it covers - extending from the edges of Springfield to Blue River. But high on his list as well are keeping up the volunteer numbers, funding, and continuing to educate the public about the services the department provides.

He hasn’t been hearing complaints from the public and instead says he appreciates the support that was shown when McKenzie Fire’s levy was passed. “That allows us to provide good service” Bryne said.

George Burnette Dillon, a volunteer since 2005, recalls when McKenzie Fire was almost all volunteer. Since then he feels the department has taken dramatic steps forward to bring on internships that “prepare people to go out in the field.”

Besides that, he calls the addition of water storage tanks around the district a “brilliant idea” and a real addition to the department’s overall operations.

He calls Fire Chief Darren Bucich’s leadership “the right thing at the right time” and says there’s been an “enormous improvement in the department.”

While recognizing people can do little about things like where power lines have been placed, Dillon says he feels creating firebreaks on properties can have very positive impacts. And, if his wish list were to come true, he’d like to see representatives from insurance companies come out to the community and explain any changes that could impact the coverage they offer.

Also on the fire district ballot, for seat #3, is Bruce Daniel.