Vissers, Sherry Smith Holding Lead in School Board Races

After a second drop of ballot counting Wednesday evening, early results on the May 18 special district election appeared to be holding strong, with incumbents Tom Scott and Sara Magenheimer, along with new faces Shelley Vissers and Sherry Smith.

In the tightest race, between Smith and two-term incumbent Mike Zagyva, the former’s lead increased by about 100 votes.

Smith, business manager of her husband’s law firm, Tyler Smith & Associates, a former member of the Canby and North Marion School District budget committees and mother of two school-age children, was carrying 53.2% out of more than 4,500 votes cast as of Wednesday’s drop.

In a statement to The Canby Current Thursday, Smith thanked Zagyva, who is also a retired longtime educator and administrator in the Canby School District, for his many years of service to the community and wished him all the best in the future.

“I would also like to thank all those who supported me and my campaign,” Smith said. “You know who you are and I couldn’t have done it without you! I am honored and humbled to represent our community and I look forward to the work ahead in serving the kids in our district.”

Zagyva also issued a brief statement Thursday morning conceding the race.

“I would like to congratulate my opponent, wish all the members of the Canby School Board the very best and thank all those who supported me,” he said. “God Bless.”

Vissers, a fifth-generation Canby resident with three children in the Canby School District, lost ground very slightly in Wednesday’s update — but not in any way that would endanger her lead.

Dilkes, also a two-term incumbent and current board chair, trailed Vissers 42.2% to 57.6% — a difference of nearly 700 votes out of 4,400 tallied.

The other two races, led by incumbents, showed no significant tightening that suggested the results were in any way in doubt.

Scott, a three-term incumbent and local small business owner and property developer, held the widest margin over his opponent, beating newcomer Olga Jimenez 66.5% to 33.4% in the latest results.

Magenheimer, a self-employed property manager with four children in local schools who is seeking a second term on the board, led challenger Stephanie Smith 63.1% to 36.8%.

More updates are expected this week as the tallying continues. The deadline to resolve ballot challenges is June 1, with the results scheduled to be finalized June 7.

New and returning board members will officially take office after taking their oaths in late June.

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