Pat Sent Packing: OHA Director Loses Sherwood School Board Race

By Reagan Knopp

Patrick Allen — Director of the Oregon Health Authority —  was defeated in his bid for re-election to the Sherwood School Board.

The high-profile incumbent faced a strong challenge from political newcomer Duncan Nyang’oro, who focused his campaign on Allen’s failure, with unpopular Gov. Kate Brown, to fully reopen schools.

While school districts are open for in-person instruction, few schools have five full days of in-person instruction per week for kids. Gov. Brown has been pressured to push for fully opening schools, but has not done so. Brown was backed for re-election by the Oregon Education Association, the statewide teachers’ union which didn’t support fully reopening schools until earlier this month.

Combined Results from Clackamas, Washington, and Yamhill counties showed newcomer Duncan Nyang’oro leading the race for Position 4 on the Sherwood School Board. Nyang’oro currently leads Allen by a comfortable 8 point margin (54-46%).

Allen tried to keep the raced focused on what he said were local successes in the Sherwood School District. Nyang’oro pointed out Allen’s decisions on the Sherwood School Board matched the timidity Gov. Brown has shown to open schools, which wasn’t in line with Sherwood’s values.

The race was a hot topic of discussion locally. Screenshots from a local community group showed Allen engaged in name-calling of local conservative voters. This led him to post an apology and blame himself for being a snowflake.

Nyang’oro focused on parent involvement, fully re-opening schools, and ensuring students learn solid fundamentals instead of activist political agendas.

Editor’s note: Reagan Knopp is the political director of Oregon Right to Life which made contributions to Friends of Duncan Nyang’oro.

Reagan Knopp is the editor of Oregon Catalyst and the political director of Oregon Right to Life.