4J School Board Candidates
Time: Noon to 1:15 pm
Venue: WOW Hall
291 W 8th
Eugene, Oregon
97401
We will meet at the WOW Hall, 291 W 8th. Learn more: https://wowhall.org/about-us/. Walk, ride a bike or take the bus. You may park on the street or in the parking lot of FOOD for Lane County's Dining Room, across 8th from the WOW Hall. A freewill donation acknowledging the Dining Room's generosity may be made at the meeting.
Lunch will be available for $15.
Topic:
On May 16, voters in the Eugene School District 4J will elect directors for two positions on the school board. Incumbent Maya Rabasa, Position 6, is running unopposed. Join us to hear from four of the five candidates (Alan Madden, runninng for Position 2, declined to participate). Voters may vote on all positions, no matter which zones the candidates would represent. City Club of Eugene will host a candidate forum on April 18 that will be moderated by KLCC’s Rebecca Hansen-White.
Speakers
Title: Candidate
Organization: 4J School Board
Website: https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2025/03/22/who-filed-to-run-for-office-in-lane-county-in-may-2025/82593658007/
Biography:
Danny McDiarmid has worked in civil service since 2001, including over two decades in legal services, family policy, and public administration. He is currently serving as a Child Support Case Manager with the Oregon Department of Justice. He has served on the Awbrey Park Elementary Site Council, mentored colleagues, and collaborated across agencies to improve outcomes for Oregon families. When not working or at a school event, you’ll likely find him fixing up the house, working in the garden, or thrifting for the next creative project.
Title: Candidate
Organization: 4J School Board
Website: https://thessenfor4j.com/
Biography:
Ericka Thessen was appointed to Position #2 of the 4J School Board in October 2023 when she was serving on the 4J Budget Committee for two years. She has been a member of the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon Lane County Leadership and Advocacy Team. She also served as Board President for The 86 Hunger Foundation, a local charity working to reduce food insecurity and food waste in Lane County. She has been a physical therapist at the PeaceHealth Riverbend hospital for more than a decade.
Title: Candidate
Organization: 4J School Board
Website: https://www.easton4education.org/
Biography:
Donald Easton has been on the faculty of Lane Community College since 2014. He is currently the LCC lead faculty member in the Business, Technology, and Trades Division.He is a former CTE Teacher / Licensed Guest Teacher at Eugene School District 4J as well a teacher at Sheldon High School. He studied Public Policy at American Military University and graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology.
Title: Candidate
Organization: 4J School Board
Website: https://www.electjudynewman.com/
Biography:
Judy Newman has completed two terms on the Eugene 4J School Board. She has 45 years of experience in education with a strong focus on early learning and special education. She co-founded Early Childhood CARES (a public education program for children with special needs and their families) and Co-directed it for 30 years. She has been on the faculty at the University of Oregon’s College of Education for over 40 years teaching Special Education and Disability Law to graduate and licensure students. She helped establish the Early Childhood Hub of Lane County, our regional hub of early learning services, and currently is their strategic advisor. to the Early Childhood Hub. She has served on many local Boards: United Way of Lane County; ShelterCare; Connected Lane County; System of Care Executive Committee; Early Childhood Hub Governance Consortium; State Interagency Coordination Council; and Autism Commission of Oregon.. She has received many awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arc of Lane County in 2019
