Jennifer Parker, a worker at a disability nonprofit, will represent south Salem on the Salem-Keizer School Board after winning the Zone 3 seat by just a few hundred votes.

Parker, a South Salem High School graduate, is the sole candidate from a slate of four conservatives elected in this year’s races. Progressive candidates Lisa Harnisch, Karina Guzmán Ortiz and Mel Fuller won the other seats in the May 20 race.

“I’m so honored by the support of the community and the trust they’ve put in me,” Parker said in a statement sent to Salem Reporter Wednesday. She said she heard throughout her campaign about the need to focus on academic basics, support for students with special needs and school safety.

“These priorities are not mine alone—I’m grateful that the other newly elected board members appear to share these goals. I’m hopeful we can work together to deliver real, visible improvements for the kids and teachers counting on us. Now it’s time to take action and follow through,” her statement said.

The Zone 3 race was the last to be settled, a week after Election Day. A Tuesday night update from the Marion County Clerk’s Office showed Parker with 22,317 votes over opponent Angelo Arredondo Baca’s 22,018. Arredondo Baca, who works in higher education advocacy and is soon to graduate Oregon State University, conceded shortly after.

“With this evening’s update, it’s clear that there are not enough ballots left for me to close the gap,” Arredondo Baca posted on his campaign Facebook page Tuesday evening. “Though this isn’t the outcome I hoped for, I’m filled with gratitude. This campaign was powered by community—and I’m proud we put students and equity at the center of everything we did. I’ll continue to fight for all students, just as I always have. I may not have won this race, but the work for inclusive, accountable schools continues.”

Local school board races have been politically polarized for years, with interest groups, unions and nonprofits spending thousands of dollars. They’ve also become steadily more expensive.

With Parker’s election, the board will have a 4-3 progressive majority when new directors take office July 1.

Progressive candidates backed by the group Community for Salem-Keizer Schools won three races despite raising on average far less than their conservative opponents backed by Marion + Polk First. Progressive candidates were also buoyed by support from farmworker union PCUN and Stand for Children while conservative candidates received the bulk of campaign money from Marion + Polk First and Oregon Right to Life.

Parker raised about $58,000 to Arredondo Baca’s $38,000, state campaign finance records showed Wednesday.

In Zone 1, Harnisch came the closest to her conservative opponent, Anthony Mitchell, raising about $53,000 to his $55,000.

Guzmán Ortiz raised about $38,000 to opponent Jason Kroker’s $60,000.

And Fuller raised $42,000 to opponent Jeremiah Radka’s $54,000.

School board directors are volunteers and serve a four-year term.

Harisch was appointed to the board last year, and Guzmán Ortiz was reelected to a second term. Parker and Fuller are newcomers.

They will join current school board Directors Cynthia Richardson, Satya Chandragiri and Krissy Hudson.

“I’m humbled by your support and inspired by our shared commitment to every child’s future. Together, we can build schools that uplift, include, and empower all,” Harnisch posted on Facebook on May 23. She said her door will be open to anyone, whether or not they voted for her.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Salem-Keizer community for once again entrusting me with the privilege and responsibility of serving our schools,” Guzmán Ortiz said in a statement sent to Salem Reporter. “This outcome is a reflection of our shared dedication to creating welcoming, high-quality learning environments for all students. I remain committed to building on this work together with our students, families, and greater community.”“I will always advocate for our families, community resources and our schools to have what they need,” Fuller wrote on her campaign page alongside a video of her visiting local schools. “As your next school board representative, I promise to bring this same energy with me to continue the work for our incredible district.”

Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

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