Here's who running for Salem-Keizer school board in May

Three seats are up for election on the Salem-Keizer Public Schools governing board in May.

Candidates will be running in Zone 2, which covers northeast Salem; Zone 4, which covers South Salem; and Zone 6, which covers Keizer.

Six people filed for candidacy by the Thursday deadline. This year's election is May 16. The last day to register to vote is April 26.

Marty Heyen, who was elected to represent Zone 2 in 2019, did not file for reelection.

In Zone 4, Satya Chandragiri, who is on the board and was elected in 2019, is running for reelection and will face a challenger.

In Zone 6, Robert Salazar, who was appointed to serve after board member Danielle Bethell resigned in October, did not file for reelection.

Candidates are elected to four-year terms and must live in the zones they wish to represent and be registered to vote. However, winners are selected by electors districtwide. 

Here are the Salem-Keizer candidates:

Zone 2

• Casity Troutt

Troutt is the president of Elite Fleet Services Inc. in Sherwood. She previously worked as a cytology/pathology assistant. She earned a certificate in medical assisting from California College of Vocational Careers.

She is among the leaders of the parent advocacy group Salem-Keizer We Stand Together.

Last year, Troutt led a failed effort to recall three school board members. Petitioners cited votes by the three prohibiting concealed guns on school grounds and support for the prior removal of school resource officers from the district as reasons for recall.

Trout also at the time said she was concerned about student access to materials she believed to be inappropriate, such as the LGBTQ graphic novel "Gender Queer: A Memoir." Her group also led the failed attempt to remove the book "Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Anti-Racism, and You" from district libraries.

• Cynthia Richardson

Richardson is the director of student equity, access and advancement for Salem-Keizer Public Schools. She previously served as a principal, assistant principal and teacher in Salem.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas, a master's degree from the University of Texas at Tyler and has completed postdoctoral coursework at Texas Woman's University and the University of Oregon.

Zone 4

• Satya Chandragiri

Chandragiri works as a physician specializing in psychiatry. He also works as the chief medical officer for Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.

He previously worked as a psychiatrist for the Salem VA Clinic, Salem Health and is the former superintendent for the Blue Mountain Recovery Center in Pendleton.

As he kicked off his campaign, he has advocated to reopen Salem-Keizer board meetings to in-person attendance by the public.

Among some higher-profile recent board issues, Chandragiri opposed banning visitors from carrying concealed firearms on district property and opposed the district's decision to remove school resource offices from schools.

• Kelley Strawn

Strawn is the associate provost of institutional research and professor of sociology at Willamette University.

His occupational background includes college instructor; high school teacher; graduate research assistant; graduate teaching assistant.

Zone 6

• Krissy Hudson

Hudson works as a customer service representative for the Oregon Department of Justice.

She previously worked in the Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Department of Disability Services and the Social Security Administration.

Hudson volunteered at Salem-Keizer elementary schools for eight years where she led instruction groups for kindergarten students.

• Larry Scruggs

Scruggs is retired and previously worked as a substitute teacher for Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

He was also director of auxiliary services for the University of Portland; vice president of operations for Raz Transportation Co. in Portland and project manager-historic structure relocation for Emmert International in Portland.

Edith Noriega is a sports and education reporter for the Statesman Journal. You may reach her at ENoriega@salem.gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Noriega_Edith.