Julie Esparza Brown
Julie Esparza Brown was the Zone 1 representative on the Portland Board of Education in Oregon. She won in the general election on May 19, 2015. She did not file to run for re-election in 2019.
Biography
Brown was raised in southern California. She earned a bachelor's of music at Willamette University, a master's degree in special education from the University of San Diego, training in school psychology at San Diego State University, and a doctorate from Portland State University.[1]
When she served on the school board, Brown was employed as an associate professor in the Portland State University School of Education. Prior to that position, she worked in bilingual and special education including working as a bilingual school psychologist. Brown has three adult children who attended public schools in California and Washington.[1]
Elections
2019
Julie Esparza Brown did not file to run for re-election.
2015
- See also: Portland Public Schools elections (2015)
Four of the seven seats on the Portland Board of Education were up for general election on May 19, 2015. The seats of Zone 1 incumbent Ruth Adkins, Zone 2 incumbent Matt Morton, Zone 3 incumbent Bobbie Regan and Zone 7 incumbent Greg Belisle were up for election.
Regan was the only incumbent to file to seek re-election. He faced three challengers, Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm, Gretchen Hollands and Wes Soderback, and was defeated by Kohnstamm.
Julie Esparza Brown defeated Andrew Davidson in the race for the open Zone 1 seat. Four candidates—Paul Anthony, José González, Emma Russac Williams and John Sweeney—filed for the open Zone 2 race. Anthony was successful in that race. Mike Rosen won the open Zone 7 seat unopposed.
Results
| Portland Public Schools, Zone 1 General Election, 4-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Julie Esparza Brown |
77.5% | 39,230 | |
| Nonpartisan | Andrew Davidson | 22% | 11,135 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.5% | 276 | |
| Total Votes | 50,641 | |||
| Source: Washington County Elections Divsion, "Official Summary Report: Special District Election May 19, 2015," June 4, 2015, Multnomah County, Oregon, "May 2015 Special Election Results," June 3, 2015, and Clackamas County, Oregon, "Specail District Election May 19, 2015, Official Results for Election," accessed June 9, 2015 | ||||
Funding
Brown reported $8,856.07 in contributions and $8,561.26 in expenditures to the Oregon Secretary of State, which left her campaign with $294.81 on hand in this election.[2]
Endorsements
Brown has been endorsed by the following:[3]
Officials
- State Sen. Senator Richard Devlin (D-19)
- State Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer (D-46)
- State Rep. Margaret Doherty (D-35)
- Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey
- Metro Councilor Sam Chase
- Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish
- Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz
- Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman
- Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick
- Portland Community College Board Member Kali Thorne Ladd
- Portland Public Schools Board Member Ruth Adkins
- Portland Public Schools Board Member Greg Belisle
- Portland Public Schools Board Member Pam Knowles
- Portland Public Schools Board Member Matt Morton
- Portland Public Schools Board Member Bobbie Regan
- Parkrose School Board Member Erick Flores
Organizations
- Portland Association of Teachers PAC
- Color PAC
- Stand for Children Oregon
- Democratic Party of Oregon Latino Caucus
Former officials
- Former Gov. Barbara Roberts (D)
- Martin Gonzalez, former school board member
- Former Mayor Tom Potter
Media outlets
- The Oregonian
- Willamette Week
Campaign themes
2015
Campaign website
Brown provided the following statements on her campaign website:
| “ | My Priorities
Improved Educational Outcomes. Every child has a right to an appropriate public education. It should never be by chance that students reach their full potential. It is up to us, the community, to ensure that our children succeed. We must take responsibility for continually improving our school systems to improve our outcomes. Prepared & Supported Teachers. Access to high quality teachers is the key to our children’s success. Over the 16 years I have been at Portland State University, I have secured over four million dollars of grant funding to prepare hundreds of bilingual and special education teachers to work in the Portland region. Many of these teachers have now moved into school administration. All of them are making a positive difference in the lives of children. Good Governance & Responsible Stewardship. I take very seriously the School Board’s responsibility as a steward of our precious educational resources. I am dedicated to strong fiscal oversight and as a PSU associate professor in the Graduate School of Education, I have experience acquiring and managing millions of dollars of grant monies. I know that to reach our educational goals we must differentiate resources and invest in what is working. Diversity & Equity. Our student population continues to rapidly diversify and this diversity is an asset and strength we must nourish and grow. Persistent educational disparities in achievement, discipline, and graduation rates limit our community’s access to the advantages and opportunities created by the emerging global community and economy. Building on our diversity creates increased opportunities for our students and community. Engaged Families and Communities. Strong and connected parents, families and communities are essential to our children’s success. Families and communities prepare our children to enter school ready to learn. The District, working in partnership, can achieve the educational outcomes we want for our children.[4] |
” |
| —Julie Esparza Brown's campaign website (2015)[5] | ||
Multnomah County voter's pamphlet
Brown provided the following statement for the Multnomah County voter's pamphlet:
| “ | Julie has spent her career in the classroom and is a national expert on bilingual and special education. As a PSU professor who trains future teachers, Julie knows the challenges facing our schools and the solutions needed to improve outcomes for all children.[4] | ” |
| —Julie Esparza Brown (2015)[6] | ||
| “ | Julie’s expertise and passion will keep PPS moving in the right direction: strong, accountable leadership, ensuring every child can read, and increasing graduation rates.[4] | ” |
| —Julie Esparza Brown (2015)[6] | ||
| “ | At PSU, Julie has successfully managed grants, programs and budgets to maximize learning for students. She will invest taxpayer dollars strategically where they will make the most difference for children.[4] | ” |
| —Julie Esparza Brown (2015)[6] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Julie Esparza Brown for Portland School Board, "About," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Committee/Filer Search by Name," accessed June 17, 2015
- ↑ Julie Esparza Brown for Portland School Board, "Supporters," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Julie Esparza Brown for Portland School Board, "Priorities," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Multnomah County, Oregon, "Voters' Pamphlet - May 2015 Special Election," accessed May 11, 2015
| 2015 Portland Public Schools Elections | |
| Multnomah County, Oregon | |
| Election date: | May 19, 2015 |
| Candidates: | Zone 1: Julie Esparza Brown • Andrew Davidson Zone 2: Paul Anthony • José González • Emma Russac Williams • John Sweeney |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
