11/05/2025
SCHNEIDER LEADS SCHOOL BOARD RACE; HOSPITAL PROPOSAL BEING DEFEATED
Incumbent Methow Valley School Board member Boo Schneider had a comfortable lead over challenger Hilary Kaltenbach in early returns from Tuesday’s (Nov. 4) General Election, according to the Okanogan County Auditor’s Office.
Meanwhile, a $45 million bond issue proposal by Okanogan and Douglas County Public Hospital District 1 (Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster) was drawing slightly more than 50% “yes” votes, but not close to the 60% supermajority required for approval. The Methow Valley is included in the Three Rivers district.
Schneider had 1,184 votes (60.5%) to Kaltenbach’s 764 (39%), the Auditor’s office reported. There were 10 write-in votes.
The Three Rivers bond proposal drew 1,377 (50.6%) “yes” votes to 1,343 (49.4%) “no” votes in early Okanogan County results. The count from the much smaller portion of the district that is in Douglas County showed 112 (46.3%) in favor and 130 (53.7%) opposed.
The combined totals were 1,489 (50.3%) in favor, 1,473 (49.7%) opposed.
The next round of results will be reported on Friday (Nov. 7). The Auditor’s Office estimated that about 600 ballots are left to count. Voter turnout was less than 30%, according to the Auditor’s Office report.
Schneider, the Methow Vallely School Board incumbent who was appointed to the school board in January, was a public school teacher for 34 years and worked closely with administrators as a negotiator for her local teachers union. She also raised children who attended public schools.
Kaltenbach has held teaching and administrative positions in both public and private schools. She moved to the valley in 2018 to manage the Seattle-based Bush School’s Mazama campus, and one of her children is a current Liberty Bell High School student — the other is a recent graduate.
Both candidates have volunteered in Methow Valley schools and sat on the boards of local nonprofits. Schneider was on the Methow Recycles board; Kaltenbach is currently president of the Public School Funding Alliance (PSFA) board and sits on the board of directors for the Shafer Historical Museum. She also leads the Methow Valley Cascaders 4-H Club.
Kaltenbach was a finalist when Schneider was appointed to the school board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Gary Marchbank.
School Board member Dana Stromberger was re-elected without opposition.
The proposed $45 million Three Rivers Hospital project would include improved surgical areas, a small expansion of the emergency room, new space for radiology and labs, a new roof, and updated electrical, plumbing and HVAC.
“Passing the bond would allow us to complete the project within about two years, improving both the patient experience and our ability to attract new patients and providers,” Three Rivers Hospital board Chair Mike Pruett said prior to the election.
No other elective positions in Methow Valley races had opposition. Robert Grim will be the new mayor in Winthrop, where he ran unopposed to replace the retiring Sally Ranzau. Joining the Twisp Town Council will be Rosemary Seifried and Molly Filer.
