After more than four cumulative hours of interviews with candidates for the open Eugene School Board seat, board members voted Thursday to appoint former board member Jim Torrey.

The seat was vacated this year mid-term by Evangelina Sundgrenz who moved out of state. Despite calls Thursday evening from multiple audience members, the teacher's union and local community groups to appoint Maya Rabasa, the majority of board members voted for Torrey.

Torrey recently was unseated from the board in May when voters elected newcomer Martina Shabram.

In addition to Torrey and Rabasa, the board also considered Gary Campbell for the position.

After sharing criteria and reasoning behind each board member's respective choice, the board cast votes by paper ballot. The first round did not have a majority vote. A second vote revealed all four returning board members — Alicia Hayes, Anne Marie Levis, Judy Newman and Mary Walston — voted for Torrey, while new members Martina Shabram and Gordon Lafer voted for Rabasa.

Ahead of the decision, the board heard a handful of public comments urging board members to choose Rabasa, who, during interviews with the board, noted being born in Mexico and being on the board of Centro Latino Americano.

Imelda Cortez, Eugene Education Association vice president, spoke in support of Rabasa during the public comment period. Cortez spoke first in Spanish and repeated her comments in English to the board, encouraging board members to vote for Rabasa as someone who understands and is part of the Latino community.

"I began my statement in Spanish tonight because it is my first language and what I’m most comfortable speaking but also to reinforce the importance of your decision tonight to all students and families, including those of us that identify as people of color," Cortez said. "This is a time for you, the members of the 4J school board, to be courageous by ensuring that you are keeping equity, honoring diversity, but most of all inclusivity of the voices of traditionally under-represented groups as a priority in your decision."

Levis, the board chair, said in addition to receiving testimony and letters endorsing Rabasa, the board also received emails endorsing Torrey.

"Public opinion is certainly important and we have to hear from people and listen," she said. "Only listening to people who came out tonight isn't doing the full job."

In sharing some criteria for making their decisions before voting, returning board members noted wanting someone with experience and understanding of the job ahead of an important year of change and increased funding for the district. The board oversees and approves a $577 million budget for the district, including $219 million in general operating funds.

Others also noted wanting someone with a longtime commitment to public education and someone who had children in the district. Levis also said she considered potential conflicts of interest among candidates.

"I love being on the board," Torrey said after the meeting. He expressed appreciation for the appointment and said he understood the passion that was shared from different groups.

Torrey said in returning to the board he will make a commitment to reaching out to marginalized communities in the area for input.

"I will on a monthly basis make it a point, if they'll have me, to attend meetings of different groups of the Latino community," and bring input from those groups back to the board in reports, he said.

Finalists each had a second interview with the board in a work session Thursday evening before the board meeting, which were kept to 20 minutes per candidate. The finalists were asked about issues such as including teacher voice in policy consideration, improving graduation rates and balancing situations of confidentiality versus transparency.

The process also included initial interviews with all 14 candidates on Monday.

Follow Jordyn Brown on Twitter @thejordynbrown or email at jbrown@registerguard.com.