John Somoza
John Somoza was a candidate for Zone 6 representative on the Beaverton School Board in Oregon. He lost in the general election on May 19, 2015.
Compared to the last two election cycles, Somoza faced a more competitive election field. An average of 2.33 candidates filed for each seat up for election. The Zone 6 seat race was the most competitive with three candidates filing for the seat, including Somoza.
Somza previously ran for the board in 2011, but was unsuccessful in that attempt. He faced just one opponent in that race.
Over five years after the first proposal was made, it appeared a land swap between Beaverton School District and neighboring Hillsboro School District might finally move forward in 2015. While there was vocal debate in Hillsboro, which was the point of instigation for the proposed district changes, Beaverton had not responded to calls to meet and discuss the change as of late April 2015.
Biography
Somoza was born in New York, N.Y., and earned a B.S. in computer engineering from Syracuse University, graduating summa cum laude. He later earned a master's of international management from Portland State University and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School.[1]
Somza and his wife, Catherine, were married in 1998. They have triplets who attend district schools. He and his wife are also foster parents. Somoza serves as a reserve deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.[1]
Elections
2015
Three of the seven seats on the Beaverton School Board were up for election on May 19, 2015. Zone 3 incumbent Mary VanderWeele, Zone 6 incumbent Jeff Hicks and Zone 7 incumbent Linda Degman were up for election. VanderWeel and Hicks did not file to seek re-election. Melissa Potter and Eric Simpson ran for the open Zone 3 seat, with Simpson defeating Potter. Becky Tymchuk defeated John Somoza and Daniel Vazquez to take the open Zone 6 seat. Degman defeated challenger Andrew Beach in her re-election bid.
Results
| Beaverton School District, Zone 6 General Election, 4-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Becky Tymchuk |
52.2% | 10,923 | |
| Nonpartisan | John Somoza | 27.9% | 5,851 | |
| Nonpartisan | Daniel Vazquez | 19.6% | 4,105 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.3% | 57 | |
| Total Votes | 20,936 | |||
| Source: Washington County, Oregon, "Official Summary Report Special District Election: May 19, 2015," June 4, 2015 and Multnomah County, Oregon, "Official Summary Report Special District Election: May 19, 2015," June 3, 2015 | ||||
Funding
Somoza began the race with an existing account balance of $250.00 from his previous campaign. He reported $1,250.00 in contributions and $500.00 in expenditures to Oregon Secretary of State, which left his campaign with $750.00 in cash on hand in this election. However, his campaign also reported $750.00 in outstanding loans and $868.06 in outstanding personal expenditures. This left his campaign with a deficit of $868.06.[2]
Endorsements
Somoza received no official endorsements in this election.
2011
| Beaverton School District, Zone 6 General Election, 4-year term, 2011 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Jeff Hicks Incumbent |
84.6% | 16,316 | |
| Nonpartisan | John Somoza | 14.8% | 2,845 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.6% | 119 | |
| Total Votes | 19,280 | |||
| Source: Washington County Elections Archive, "Special Election May 17, 2011, Official Final," May 31, 2015 | ||||
Campaign themes
2015
Somoza provided the following statements for the Washington County voter pamphlet:
| “ | EDUCATION COUNTS!
To be successful in life we need to prepare our students to become lifelong learners. The first and most important step on this journey begins with our public schools. We need to make sure we get it right the first time by focusing on teaching the fundamentals and not the latest fads. There are no second chances. I will make sure we focus on giving our students the rock solid educational foundation they need to succeed! EXPERIENCE COUNTS! Now, more than ever, our students need to be prepared for college regardless of career path. I work full-time collaborating with the top universities in the US and around the world on curriculum development to create the classes that teach the students of today the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. I know what colleges are looking for and I will bring this valuable knowledge and experience with me to the Beaverton School Board! EMPATHY COUNTS! As a long-time resident and parent of several Beaverton School District students I see the impacts of the school board decisions first hand. As a current foster parent and a former foster child, I know how hard it is to go to school when you have no family support. As a secondgeneration American, who was the first person in his family to get a 4-year degree, I know what education can mean to realizing the American dream. I will bring these personal experiences and empathy for those who struggle to succeed to the Beaverton School Board![3] |
” |
| —John Somoza (2015)[4] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms John Somoza Beaverton School District. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Beaverton School District, Oregon
- Beaverton School District elections (2015)
- Embroiled incumbents see differing outcomes in May 19 school board elections across five states (May 21, 2015)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Somoza For Beaverton School Board, "About Me," accessed May 18, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Committee/Filer Search by Name," accessed June 5, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington County Elections Division, "Washington County voters’ pamphlet: Vote-by-mail regular election May 19, 2015," accessed May 18, 2015
| 2015 Beaverton School District Elections | |
| Washington County, Oregon | |
| Election date: | May 19, 2015 |
| Candidates: | Zone 3: Melissa Potter • Eric Simpson Zone 6: John Somoza • Becky Tymchuk • Daniel Vazquez |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
