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Bobbie Regan, left, and Amy Kohnstamm. (Laura Frazier/The Oregonian)
This post has been updated
Newcomer Amy Kohnstamm has ousted incumbent Bobbie Regan for the Zone 3 seat on the Portland Public Schools Board of Education, according to unofficial election results.
As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, Kohnstamm had won 44 percent of the vote and Reagan had received 41 percent.
Kohnstamm is currently ahead by just under 2,000 votes-- 23,062 people voted for Kohnstamm, and 21,094 chose Regan.
Other Zone 3 candidates Gretchen Hollands and Wes Soderback received 10 percent and 5 percent of the vote, respectively.
The race between Kohnstamm and Regan emerged as the most competitive. According to the most recent available figures from Oregon Secretary of State campaign reports, Kohnstamm's team raised nearly $120,000 in contributions. Regan's raised about $132,000.
Regan, a three-term incumbent, was the only board member whose seat was up to run for reelection. She highlighted what the board had accomplished so far during her tenure and her role in promoting the district's bond and levy measures.
Kohnstamm, a mother of three PPS students, was among the parent coalition that fought for the district to increase class time for high school students and served on the board for the Portland Schools Foundation (All Hands Raised).
When reached by phone Wednesday morning, Kohnstamm said she felt like she had strong backing from parent and community groups across Portland over the course of her campaign.
"All along I just felt really strong," she said. "It was a really tough race, obviously, coming up against an incumbent and (Regan) had so much intrenched support."
Regan said she thinks the community was looking for change on the board. She said she called Kohnstamm soon after the first round of results were posted, and felt it was clear at that time what the outcome would be.
"I have great appreciation for the opportunity that I've had during the past 12 years to serve our kids," she said. " My goal was to hopefully continue in this role. I was in it to win, and voters had another plan."
In other open seats, Mike Rosen secured the Zone 7 spot, Paul Anthony has won Zone 2 and Julie Esparza Brown has won Zone 1.
According to Multnomah County, 17 percent of registered voters turned in ballots.
The next election results update will be on Friday, according to Multnomah County. Check back later for more reactions on Tuesday's election results.
Read our previous coverage of this year's election:
- Professor and student face off in Zone 1
- Four candidates vie for open Zone 2 seat
- Three candidates aim to unseat incumbent in Zone 3
- Sole candidate for Zone 7 seat looks ahead
- Portland school board candidates field questions from high schoolers at student-run forum
--Laura Frazier
lfrazier@oregonian.com
503-294-4035
@frazier_laura
This post has been updated with additional comment from candidates.