The agreement, which for nearly three decades allowed students from Dufur to play baseball and softball at The Dalles High School, met resistance this year from some board members who questioned its impact on local students' opportunities.

Board member Brian Stevens made the motion to select Lopez after noting all of the candidates were well qualified and committed to the community. He also added that Lopez, who resides in Mosier, “checked the box” for representing the people of Zone 1 as Mosier is the densest area of the population in that zone.