THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603080332
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: By Vanee Vines, Staff writer
LENGTH: Long : 272 lines
The city's first School Board election has attracted a diverse field of 16 candidates - from college instructors to homemakers to retirees.
Their reasons for running are equally diverse.
Many fear a local repeat of the financial disaster now plaguing the Virginia Beach district. Others worry about troubled students, low-paid teachers and lackluster performance in the classroom. Some say the nine-member board simply needs more members with school-age kids.
Portsmouth voters overwhelmingly supported the switch from an appointed to an elected board. The measure passed in a 1994 referendum by a nearly 4-to-1 margin.
But since then, some residents have argued over the details.
One group, for instance, opposed the City Council's plan for at-large board elections because, these residents said, it would not foster better racial or neighborhood diversity on the board. Still, the U.S. Justice Department ultimately approved the plan.
In the weeks leading up to the May 7 election, voters will have opportunities to learn more about board candidates as the campaign heats up.
Today's edition of The Currents includes snapshots of the contenders for five available seats now held by board Chairman J. Thomas Benn III, Vice Chairman James E. Bridgeford, Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr., Leah Stith and Louise G. ``Sis'' Walden. Only Benn and Stith aren't running for their seats.
Why should anyone care about the School Board election?
The answer is both simple and complex: What the board does affects parts of daily life, impacting everything from learning conditions to the city's ability to attract new families and businesses to Portsmouth.
When it comes to schools, the future is always at stake. MEMO: To discuss coverage of the School Board election or to share concerns
about issues raised during the campaign, call Staff Writer Vanee Vines
at 490-7213.
CANDIDATES
Name: Dr. Elizabeth Daniels
Age: 57
Address: 1500 block of Belafonte Drive in Cavalier Manor
Occupation: Dentist
Why are you running? To stay involved in education. She has taught
for several years.
What can you contribute? As a former associate dean for academic
affairs at a Nashville, Tenn., dental school, she says her experience
with budgets and curricula would be useful.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is her first run for political office.
Name: Jesse G. Alspaugh Jr.
Age: 72
Address: 200 block of Idlewood Avenue in Shea Terrace
Occupation: A retired businessman and a volunteer ``Paired Reader''
at John Tyler Elementary
Why are you running? To shed light on the fact that some textbooks
students use are outdated or lacking certain bits of information, such
as a multiplication table, he said. He's also concerned about textbooks
with grammatical errors.
What can you contribute? Insights from his volunteer work in the
classroom
Kids in school?: No
Election experience: He unsuccessfully ran for City Council in the
late 1950s.
Name: V.W. ``Vic'' Goodman
Age: 57
Address: 1200 block of Tatem Avenue in the West Park Homes area
Occupation: Retired health department administrator
Why are you running? He feels his experience with city and state
budgets would be useful.
What can you contribute? He would work to maintain ``good fiscal
integrity'' in the district.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
Name: Incumbent James E. Bridgeford, board vice chairman
Age: 52
Address: 3800 block of Flagship Way in Churchland
Occupation: Systems accountant for the Navy
Why are you running? To further improve parental involvement in
schools; to help make sure the district is as financially stable as
possible; to help find more ways to bring extra money into the district
to pay for maintenance and other needs
What can you contribute? Insights from previous experience on the
board. He also would like to focus on ways to improve achievement as
measured by standardized tests and push for implementation of the Equity
2000 program, which is designed to give kids - especially the
disadvantaged - a rigorous, academic education
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
Name: Incumbent Louise G. ``Sis'' Walden
Age: 53
Address: 500 block of Nansemond Street in Waterview
Occupation: Owner of Olde Towne Flower Market in Portsmouth
Why are you running? To see several initiatives carried out fully -
such as the district's overarching strategic plan - and to help make
sure other recent initiatives stay on track, such as the community
schools plan.
What can you contribute? Insights from previous board experience. She
would like to push for implementation of the Equity 2000 program, which
is designed to give kids - especially the disadvantaged - a rigorous,
academic education. She also would help find ways to bring extra money
into the district.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is her first run for political office.
Name: Incumbent Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr.
Age: 59
Address: 3100 block of Honeysuckle Lane in Churchland
Occupation: President of the Beazley Foundation
Why are you running? To continue to play a role in the improvement of
Portsmouth's public school system
What can you contribute? He would push to find ways to improve
instruction in schools and ways to help pay for various maintenance
needs.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
Name: Douglas N. Eames
Age: 40
Address: Lives on Wayland Drive in Churchland
Occupation: Self-employed engineering and management services
consultant.
Why are you running? He thinks his business background would be
useful. He'd also like to see schools make greater use of technology in
the classroom.
What can you contribute? He'd like to get more businesses involved in
schools - to help mentor students and also assist schools in other ways.
Kids in school? He has three children at Churchland Elementary
School.
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
Name: N. Gaile Bishop
Age: 46
Address: 200 block of York Drive in the South Loxley Place
neighborhood
Occupation: Teaches piano and voice and volunteers at the Portsmouth
Police Crime Prevention Unit
Why are you running? She has concerns about students who get into
trouble. She also would like to make more educators and students aware
of the ``McGruff House'' program. As part of the program, residents'
homes are designated as McGruff Houses - places where kids in trouble
can go for temporary help, until authorities arrive to handle a given
situation. She would like to see the magnet program expanded.
What can you contribute? She would like to foster teamwork among
teachers, parents, students, the board and the city at large.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is her first run for political office.
Name: B. ``Keith'' Nance Sr.
Age: 35
Address: 100 block of Lamper Road in Park Manor
Occupation: Insurance agent
Why are you running? He fears a local repeat of the financial crisis
now plaguing the Virginia Beach district. As a leader of the Portsmouth
Citizens for Better Education group, he helped spearhead the drive to
get the elected board issue on the ballot.
What can you contribute? He would push for more citizen involvement
and increased support for teachers. He also would look for ways to
improve morale and the district's image.
Kids in school? One at Olive Branch Elementary
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
Name: David I. Joyner
Age: 59
Address: 4200 block of Heather Road in Churchland
Occupation: Old Dominion University education professor
Why are you running? To help improve the image of city schools; to
push for more competitive salaries; to aggressively seek quality
teachers; to help retain the district's top teachers
What can you contribute? Insights from 38 years of experience in
education. He previously taught at the former Cradock High.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
Name: Karen S. Jordan
Age: 41
Address: 100 block of Elmhurst Court in Simonsdale
Occupation: Homemaker; also president of the Simonsdale Civic Club.
She helped spearhead the drive for an elected board.
g11ptcov10 Why are you running? She believes it's time for parents
to get more involved in schools.
What can you contribute? Her experiences as a district bus driver and
PTA leader have given her a better understanding of parents'
expectations and would be useful, she said. She also wants to help
improve morale.
Kids in school? One at Woodrow Wilson High
Election experience: This is her first run for political office.
Name: Elijah ``Buddy'' Sharp III
Age: 38
Address: 700 block of Hancock Avenue in Cavalier Manor
Occupation: Instructor at Hampton University, primarily teaching
continuing education courses
Why are you running? To help improve academic achievement in middle
schools; to improve achievement among minority students and females,
especially in science and math
What can you contribute? Insights from ties to city youngsters - from
mentoring and recreational activities
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
Name: M.B. ``Randi'' Strutton
Age: 49
Address: 4700 block of River Shore Road in Churchland
Occupation: She is a homemaker and president of the Hoffler Creek
Wildlife Foundation.
Why are you running? To improve education. She's also concerned about
low morale among teachers and the district's ``brain drain''
What can you contribute? She would like to help raise teachers'
morale and reduce class size where possible. She would push for
increased school safety measures.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is her first run for political office.
Name: Carol P. Young
Age: 29
Address: 2000 block of Colorado Avenue in the Kingman Heights area
Occupation: A hospital medical clerk
Why are you running? She's concerned about many students who are
being undereducated.
What can you contribute? She would encourage educators to spend more
time on academic basics.
Kids in school? Three at Olive Branch Elementary
Election experience: This is her first run for political office.
Name: Mary E. ``Becky'' Nelson
Age: 39
Address: 900 block of Chumley Road in Hodges Manor
Occupation: Materials expediter at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Why are you running? She wants to make sure no schools are
shortchanged and she wants to better represent residents and schools in
the Hodges Manor and Manor View areas.
What can you contribute? She would like to make sure all community
schools are stellar, so parents would not feel compelled to send their
children to out-of-zone elementary schools in other communities.
Kids in school? No
Election experience: This is her first run for political office.
Name: North E. West
Age: 63
Address: Lives on Afton Parkway in the Cradock neighborhood
Occupation: Semi-retired in the home repair business
Why are you running? ``I'm an older person, retired. I have children,
grandchildren. I have time to do it. I wanted to see if I could help
benefit the children. I wouldn't want what happened in the Beach to
happen in my community. I'm well known in certain areas. I'm a pretty
quiet person, stay to myself without a lot of hoopla, but I'm still
concerned for the children.
What can you contribute? I have a pretty good common sense education.
I've been out in this society working. My No. 1 priority would be taking
care of the children, and the employees of the school board. If I got
elected I would give it my best shot.
Kids in school? Three daughters graduated from the Portsmouth public
schools
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos of all candidates except Carol P. Young
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD RACE ELECTION PROFILE
CANDIDATES by CNB