For the win: Molalla Middle School bond passes (updated 4)

It took a while, but the Molalla Middle School bond has passed.

As of Friday night, the “yes” votes are holding a 3,218 to 3,103 advantage after the sixth vote total release by Clackamas County Elections. And while there may be a smattering of ballots left to count, the 115-vote margin is a clear sign that the battle for a new middle school has been won.

After opening with a 27-vote margin for passage on election night, that margin slipped to nine votes by Wednesday morning. Fortunately for proponents, by Friday evening that margin had continued to grow.

There was no shortage of effort this time around as the YES for Molalla Kids group not only mobilized good numbers, but put their time, effort and money where their hearts were.

Those efforts were in support of a $77.46 million bond that would replace Molalla Middle School, which as seen several closures in recent years due to failing heating and plumbing issues, as well as a host of other issues and deterioration.

The levy will cost Molalla residents in the school district about $1.55 per $1,000 of assessed property value over the course of the 30-year period of the levy.

YES for Molalla Kids has been active in trying to help the bond find a welcoming embrace amongst Molalla voters.

The group has 150 people involved with the committee, raised nearly $41,000, sent 15,000 texts, knocked on 2,500 doors, sent out over 10,000 direct mail pieces, and shown up at as many functions, meetings and get-togethers as possible, according to Mitche Graf, one of the group’s leaders.

“What started nearly three years ago in my living room with a very small handful of people has blossomed into a movement that is bringing Molalla together,” said Graf.

According to Graf, with passage of the measure, activity would begin immediately in prepping for the project, with groundbreaking slated for sometime in 2025 and completion by fall 2027.

After a slow start to ballot returns, Clackamas County saw a jump in returns that saw the number grow to 30.15% by Wednesday afternoon. Clackamas County Elections received more than 40,000 ballots on Election Day alone, as many as half of them after 5 p.m.