After 51 Years, MHCC Passes a Bond!

After initial results of the proposed $136 million Mt. Hood Community College bond measure were posted the evening of May 20, election day, showing it lagging in support, the next vote updates showed it gaining support as additional mail ballots were counted.

Now, from a narrow lead of just 11 votes on May 21, the winning margin has increased to 144 votes, as of June 3.

After six failed attempts over the years, MHCC finds itself on track to pass its first bond measure since November 1974.

Campus leaders are able to savor the success, while thanking those who made it happen.

“This is more than a victory – it’s a comeback story fifty years in the making,” Jennifer Boehmer, who leads community outreach for Mt. Hood, wrote in an email to The Advocate.

“The passage of this bond marks a historic turning point for MHCC. It means safer, more modern facilities, expanded career training opportunities, and a stronger, more connected college for generations to come,” she said.

Boehmer credited all those who campaigned for and supported the bond proposal.

“This victory belongs to every person who knocked on a door, shared their story, wore an ‘I [heart] MHCC’ sticker, liked a social media post, or had a conversation with a neighbor. We couldn’t have done it without them,” she wrote.

In sum, she stated: “The margin was narrow, but the message is clear: people believe in our mission, our students, and the power of public education to transform lives.”

Back at the MHCC election night watch party, in a small venue in downtown Gresham, the first vote count did not go as President Lisa Skari had hoped.

Appearing shortly after 8 p.m., the results showed the bond trailing in support by 1,785 votes and behind in every county (Multnomah and Clackamas counties) except Hood River County, where the race now stands in a dead tie.

It seemed that the bond was on the road towards defeat – again. When Skari addressed those present, she thanked all those who had supported the measure and said the college should continue to build ties with the community.

While she said she remained hopeful, there was a real sense that Skari was preparing for the real possibility the measure would fail and the college might need yet another campaign to pass a bond.

By the time an MHCC District Board of Education meeting started the following night, the mood had changed: Updated election results that afternoon showed bond leading by a mere 11 votes.

The tone had changed from the slightly somber crowd of the previous night to a gleeful optimism shared from the members of the Board.

Skari reiterated her comments the previous night after the early vote count “about how this community helped make this happen and they were there with us, a number of them were out supporting us, canvassing, knocking on doors, putting up signs,” she told the Board and other attendees.

“It was incredible and so they showed up for us in an amazing way and so we need to continue to show up for them,” she said. She noted in comparison that the May 2016 bond measure attempt, which failed 55 to 45% overall, was defeated in all three counties.

Ultimately, the 2025 measure pulled ahead in Multnomah County by nearly 1,300 votes – and Skari and others could celebrate the long-sought result.

All final voting results across Oregon will be certified on June 16.

Leo Fontneau