Yakima County
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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2025 Primary election! Since 2008, we've compiled information about candidates and ballot measures that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. We will continue to add additional recommendations until voting begins on July 16.
Yakima School Board
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below school district races on your ballot.
Pam Shelton was inspired to run after the current board's unsavory decision to lay off educators to save money. Born and raised locally, Shelton worked for years as a bookkeeper and recently served as a substitute teacher in the school district.
Shelton believes that eliminating teachers should be a last resort because of the important role they play in students’ lives. If elected, she wants to protect resources for students and prioritize respect for educators.
We appreciate her vision, passion, and educational experience within the district. We recommend voting for Pam Shelton to make progressive change on the Yakima School Board in Position 1.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Pam Shelton was inspired to run after the current board's unsavory decision to lay off educators to save money. Born and raised locally, Shelton worked for years as a bookkeeper and recently served as a substitute teacher in the school district.
Shelton believes that eliminating teachers should be a last resort because of the important role they play in students’ lives. If elected, she wants to protect resources for students and prioritize respect for educators.
We appreciate her vision, passion, and educational experience within the district. We recommend voting for Pam Shelton to make progressive change on the Yakima School Board in Position 1.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Pam Shelton was inspired to run after the current board's unsavory decision to lay off educators to save money. Born and raised locally, Shelton worked for years as a bookkeeper and recently served as a substitute teacher in the school district.
Shelton believes that eliminating teachers should be a last resort because of the important role they play in students’ lives. If elected, she wants to protect resources for students and prioritize respect for educators.
We appreciate her vision, passion, and educational experience within the district. We recommend voting for Pam Shelton to make progressive change on the Yakima School Board in Position 1.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Jonathan Babcock is running for Yakima School Board Director in Position 2. He has been a teacher in Sunnyside for 22 years and serves as Co-President of the educators’ association. B
Babcock seeks to bring an educator’s perspective to board decisions, ensuring that students and classrooms are the last place cuts are made, not the first. He believes the district must lead by example by scrutinizing central administration and operational spending. His approach prioritizes staffing, preventing personnel cuts, and implementing strategies for retention.
We recommend Jonathan Babcock for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2, because of his strong support from local educators.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Jonathan Babcock is running for Yakima School Board Director in Position 2. He has been a teacher in Sunnyside for 22 years and serves as Co-President of the educators’ association. B
Babcock seeks to bring an educator’s perspective to board decisions, ensuring that students and classrooms are the last place cuts are made, not the first. He believes the district must lead by example by scrutinizing central administration and operational spending. His approach prioritizes staffing, preventing personnel cuts, and implementing strategies for retention.
We recommend Jonathan Babcock for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2, because of his strong support from local educators.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Jonathan Babcock is running for Yakima School Board Director in Position 2. He has been a teacher in Sunnyside for 22 years and serves as Co-President of the educators’ association. B
Babcock seeks to bring an educator’s perspective to board decisions, ensuring that students and classrooms are the last place cuts are made, not the first. He believes the district must lead by example by scrutinizing central administration and operational spending. His approach prioritizes staffing, preventing personnel cuts, and implementing strategies for retention.
We recommend Jonathan Babcock for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2, because of his strong support from local educators.
Last updated: 2025-07-14