Election 2015--Susan O'Connor, Derek West seek election to the board

Susan O'Connor was appointed to the Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors in August of 2013. Now she finds herself in a race against challenger Derek West to retain the position.

When former school board member Lee Tischer encouraged her to volunteer a couple years ago, she set aside her doubts and concerns about the time commitment and stepped forward.

"It sounded good because I love school," O'Connor said. "Education is the nation's first priority. If you don't have intelligent, educated people, you are not going to be able to govern yourselves very well. That's really why I do it."

Student safety is an important issue to O'Connor and she was pleased that the recent security and technology levy passed.

"Security is a really big priority now," she said. "We could put in the cameras and more safety things for the school. Even the buses didn't have radios. What if something happened or a kid got really sick?"

Happily, that is one less thing to worry about.

"I'm glad we could get it done," O'Connor said.

O'Connor had a good experience when her youngest son attended the school in Cathlamet and she is on the school board to lend support to the staff and students. She would like other community members to have a positive experience as well.

"I like the other board members and I think everyone is trying their best to do a good job," O'Connor said. "I think we are really lucky with the staff at both the schools."

"I wish more people would go to the school board meetings and ask questions when they have concerns," she said. "They could get an answer and feedback. If there is something someone is really concerned about, we can work on it."

"I got appointed because of a vacancy," O'Connor added. "Now that I've done it, I like it. I think it's important to the community and I want to continue doing it."

O'Connor works in Wahkiakum County Auditor's Office and is a Skamokawa resident. She earned a degree in English from St. Mary's College of California. Her husband Brian is a commissioner for Port 2.