As the filing deadline for the May 15 election came and went Thursday, one county race intensified, another saw the re-emergence of a familiar face and a third failed to attract a full complement of candidates.

But the most noteworthy development was in North Bend. As recently as Tuesday, nary a single candidate had filed for one of three vacancies on the North Bend School Board. The three incumbents, Robert Raper, J. Rick Evans and Rhonda Cuzzort, had indicated a desire to step down.

But by 5 p.m. on Thursday, six candidates had emerged, including four gunning for one position.

“It's nice to see the docket full,” said board Chairwoman Carolyn Thompson. “It's very beneficial to see continued interest in our schools.”

Unlike other districts, where residents are free to apply for any open position, North Bend reserves seats for different geographic areas. So while three seats were open, two were limited to residents of Lakeside, Hauser, Glasgow and other rural areas, while the other was open only to North Bend residents.

Two seats attracted one candidate each. Dave Ellingson, who lives just outside of Lakeside, will contend for Position 1. And Mike Wallace, who lives on North Bay Road, will vie for Position 3.

Although both races will be uncontested, Thompson was glad to see candidates file from the rural area.

“It is always a concern north of the bridge with the shrinking population of kids,” she said. “It seems it really is a catalyst (to attract board candidates) when they have children or grandchildren.”

It is Position No. 7, reserved for residents of North Bend, which attracted the greatest number of candidates. Corey Crismon, Aaron Simons, Tom Hibbert and Don Van Dyke all filed papers. But because they all live within city limits, only one can sit on the board.

Thompson said she is not surprised at the initial lack of candidates vying to serve on the school district.

“There is always a concern that in a small community, there aren't enough people to spread across the various organizations that require volunteer help,” she said.

One panel that snapped up a number of potential volunteers was the Coos County Airport District, with every board race scheduled to be contested. In fact, the only race that does not have three candidates running is Position 2, with former Coos Bay Mayor Joe Benetti facing off against Coos Bay resident Allen Todd.

The other races include incumbent Airport District Commissioner Judy Weeks against Mary Schamehorn of Bandon and Mike Lehman of Coos Bay; incumbent Helen Brunell Mineau jousting with North Bend resident Tom Muscus and Coos Bay resident Lauri Todd; while incumbent Jon Barton will battle John Briggs, the Coos Bay accountant who, in January, abruptly announced he would no longer serve as the district's contracted bookkeeper and Coos Bay resident Steve D. Jones.

One of the few contested races in a school district other than North Bend will take place in Coquille - with a twist. In January, Kathy Hagen stepped down from the Position 6 chair with two years remaining in her term. At the time, she said her decision was due in part to personal matters as well as philosophical differences with the rest of the board. Her primary contention was with the board's decision to accept a letter of resignation from Coquille High School Principal Patrick Royal.

By Thursday, however, Hagen was ready to return to the board. She filed papers to run for seat No. 5, a position currently held by Katie Kindgren, who is running for re-election. Other board incumbents who filed papers include Chairman Tony Messerle, Steve Britton and JoAnne Beck. Clifford Wheeler is running unopposed to complete the remaining two years on Hagen's term.

Although it appeared the North Bend School District might end up with three vacant positions, the only district to fail to attract sufficient candidates was Coos Bay. While board members Wally Hazen and David Ford filed for re-election, Tom Bennett decided to call it quits after 18 years of service. No one filed to replace him.

Mary Bjornerud, secretary to Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray, said it has been at least 10 years since a board race did not attract a single candidate in Coos Bay. Unless someone conducts a write-in campaign, Bjornerud said the district will wait until Bennett's term expires in June and then solicit applications for an appointed replacement.

“I'm sure we would prefer for someone on (a write-in) campaign and have them elected by the public,” she said.

For a complete list of candidates who filed for the May 15 election, please click here.