March 22nd, 2025

Linn Dems endorse GAPS, ESD candidates

   The Linn County Democratic Central Committee has endorsed five candidates in the May 20 Special District Election.
   Three of the candidates seek election to the Greater Albany Public Schools Board, and two are running for seats on the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Education Service District Board of Directors. 
    For the GAPS Board, the candidates receiving endorsements during a special Zoom meeting Friday evening were::

• Kristopher Schendel (Zone 1), senior code compliance officer for the city of Albany and the father of three school-age children. “I’ve worked with Kristopher through the city and found him to be an honest and patient person,” said Jackie Montague, an Albany City Councilor and Linn Democrat.
• Stephanie Lunceford (Zone 2), a mortgage loan originator, said she has raised her four children for 27 of the 30 years she has lived in Albany. She said her oldest child was enrolled in special education classes and her youngest has struggled with anxiety. “It’s important to make the schools more inclusive … and better for our students’ well being,” Lunceford said.
• Kris McLaughlin (At-Large, No. 2) is a retired teacher who taught for 38 years at Calapooia Middle School. “I want to be part of bringing this district back together again,” McLaughlin said. Linn Democrat Stacey Bartholomew said McLaughlin “has a depth of wisdom I have seldom seen.”

     For the Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD Board, the Linn Dems endorsed: 
     • Bill Hays (Zone 1) a retired United Methodist minister who also was a special education bus driver in the Albany school district. Linn Democrat Nancy Greenman said she admires Hays’ “compassion, sense of humor and sense of responsibility.”
     • Michael Thomson (Zone 3) is an Albany City Councilor and past GAPS board member. He was appointed to the ESD board to fill a vacancy last year and is running unopposed. “I have great respect for Michael Thomson,” said Linn Democrat Susan Leonard, “particularly around education.'
     Linn Dems Chair Ben Watts said more nominations from Precinct Committee People can be considered at the organization’s monthly meeting April 3. PCPs must, however, send notification of a nomination for a measure or candidate to [email protected] by Thursday, March 27.

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