Mark Severson defeats the board chair, Janet Roberts, in race to represent Zone 4

By Rachael Scarborough King / The Bulletin
Published: May 16. 2007 5:00AM PST

PRINEVILLE – Mark Severson appears to have won the race to represent Zone 4 on the Crook County School Board in the district’s only contested race, according to unofficial election results.

Severson appeared to have defeated incumbent Janet Roberts with 56 percent of votes as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Roberts garnered 44 percent of votes.

“I’m looking forward to adding my experience to the board and hope to improve the quality of education in Crook County,” Severson said Tuesday evening.

Severson, 48, lives in Prineville and serves on several boards in the area. He is the chairman of the Pioneer Memorial Hospital board of directors and sits on the High Desert Education Service District board and the Crook County School District budget committee.

Roberts, 59, is currently the chairwoman of the school board, which she has served on for 17 years. She was first appointed to fill a vacant seat on the board in 1990.

Roberts was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.

As Crook County continues to grow, the school district faces the challenge of keeping up with the increased numbers of students. A facilities committee is currently working on recommendations for replacing or updating the district’s buildings.

The election for the Zone 4 seat, which covers Powell Butte and the southwest corner of Prineville, was the only one contested this year. On Tuesday, newcomer Jeff Landaker won the Zone 3 seat with 99 percent of the vote, and Steve Caraway was re-elected to represent Zone 1 with 98 percent of the vote.

Landaker, 40, is the current chairman of the facilities committee. He has two children who attend Cecil Sly Elementary School in Prineville.

Caraway, 54, has been on the school board for eight years and is the former board chairman.