COQUILLE — The Coquille School Board quickly and quietly chose an inexperienced candidate to fill a vacancy on the board Monday night, hoping he would bring new ideas to the table.

After interviewing all the candidates, the school board voted unanimously to appoint Coquille resident Jeff Cannon. He will serve out Kathy Hagen’s term, which will expire in June. Hagen moved out of the district in October and in the same month, the board declared her seat vacant. The Coquille City Council also had to replace Hagen for the same reason.

Along with Cannon, Richard Fish and Fred Eschler applied for the school board position. All three are longtime residents of Coquille.

Cannon said he knows the district is facing tough financial choices and he has much to learn about the responsibilities of being a board member. The district is dealing with mid-year budget cuts due to a reduction in state revenue and more cuts next year. 

“I know we are in a difficult time,” Cannon said. “At some point I wanted to give back a little.”

He said now that his three sons, all who attended Coquille schools, have graduated, he has more time to dedicate to school board matters. Cannon said he intends to run for election in May.

Cannon has lived in Coquille since 1963 and works as a millwright at Roseburg Forest Products and is a cranberry grower. He has no prior school board experience.

That was what Board Chairwoman Robyn Johnson said pushed him above the two other candidates in her mind.

“I think it is going to be good,” Johnson said “He is new and has fresh ideas.”

Both Fish and Eschler have either served on the board before or have worked with the board on projects within the district and Johnson said the board needs a member who has no preconceived notions about what it means to be on the board.

“I want to make it work,” Cannon said.