DATE: Sunday, June 1, 1997                  TAG: 9706010050

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LOUIS HANSEN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  134 lines

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN 75TH CARRIES EDUCATIONAL WEIGHT

The Education Committee of the House of Delegates might sound like a hushed-tones group with countless meetings and a small, devoted following of policy wonks.

But the 22-member committee makes decisions about such everyday matters as whether students can wear electronic pagers on school property, as well as loftier matters such as whether charter schools should be allowed in Virginia.

Its policies affect almost half of every tax dollar collected in the commonwealth.

For the past decade, Del. J. Paul Councill Jr., a Democrat from Franklin, has chaired the Education Committee.

And like it or not, every major education decision made during that time has had to pass muster with Councill.

``If it deals with education,'' said Cheri James, president of the Virginia Education Association, ``it goes through that committee.''

Adds Jim Murphy, chief lobbyist in Richmond for the Virginia Parent Teacher Association, ``If they don't like something, it doesn't happen.''

The Democratic primary in the largely rural 75th, then, could affect schools from Virginia's sea coast to its mountaintops.

On June 10, Councill faces opposition for his 75th District seat in the Democratic primary from Waverly lawyer and professor Del M. Maughrine Brown.

The district is a squiggly parliamentary parcel that includes all of Greensville and Sussex counties and the city of Emporia, and parts of Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg, Southampton and Surry counties and the city of Franklin.

The meandering district - with 37,293 registered voters - was redrawn in 1991, resulting in a black-majority district.

Brown, who is black, said race would not be an issue. ``It's about who can do the best for the people,'' she said. Councill is white.

Councill, 75, has served in the House since 1973. A farmer and retired small businessman in Franklin, he also has served in local government for two decades.

In addition to chairing the Education Committee, he sits on the House Appropriations Committee, which determines funding for Virginia's public schools. He chairs an appropriations subcommittee that determines funding for grades K-12.

In a 1993 primary challenge, Councill easily defeated Waverly businessman M. Sherlock Holmes. He ran unopposed in 1995.

Brown, 32, is a partner at the law firm Poindexter & Brown in Surry and teaches business law at Norfolk State University. She ran unsuccessfully for the 62nd House District seat in 1995.

That district stretches from Hopewell to Nottoway County. Brown moved into the 75th District last year and makes a two-hour daily commute to Norfolk because she likes the countryside.

Both candidates cite education as the key issue in the election.

Brown opposes a state proposal to allow charter schools - smaller, semi-independent schools designed to meet a specific goal. Instead, ``I'm for bringing more money to our district.''

Councill said he believes local school districts should decide whether they want charter schools. ``It's strictly a local option.''

He added that the proposal could benefit parts of the 75th District because ``the majority of (charter schools) go into minority, low-income districts.''

The political action committee of the state Education Association endorses candidates, but James said her organization has not backed anyone in the 75th District.

A wrinkle in this primary is the requirement that voters declare their intentions to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.

Voter turnout is expected to be higher in the Republican primary, where a hotly contested run for the state attorney general's office is being run.

With no Republican challenger in the 75th District, the Democratic primary will determine who represents the district.

``If people don't vote in this,'' Councill said, ``they get whatever comes out.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Del M. Maughrine Brown

Del. J. Paul Councill Jr.

Graphic

THE CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES

J. Paul Councill Jr.

Born: Dec. 12, 1921

Education: Franklin Public School system, Westown School in

Swarthmore, Colo.

Political experience/community service: 10 years on Southampton

County Board of Supervisors, 24 years in General Assembly.

Occupation: Farmer and businessman.

How to reach: (757) 562-4283.

1. Why should Democrats pick you as their candidate?

My 24 years of service in the General Assembly merit

consideration.

2. What do you see as the most critical issue in the November

election?

To continue to improve educational opportunities for the young

people of the commonwealth.

3. What would be your pet project in the legislature?

As chairman of the House Education Committee, I hope to foster

better cooperation among local school divisions, the State Board of

Education, the State Council of Higher Education, and our colleges

and universities.

4. If you were to find extra money as a delegate, would you cut

taxes or restore previously reduced services? Which ones?

Assuming that there are firm, positive projections of surplus

funds, I would consider some type of tax relief for our citizens.

Del M. Maughrine Brown

Education: Hopewell City Public Schools, University of Maryland

College Park, University of Maryland School of Law.

Political experience/community service: National delegate,

Democratic National Convention, 1996; state delegate, Democratic

state convention, 1995; candidate, 62nd District, House of

Delegates, 1995.

Pro-bono attorney, Legal Aid Services; Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority Inc.

Occupation: associate attorney, Poindexter & Brown, Surry County.

How to reach: (804) 834-3677.

1. Why should Democrats pick you as their candidate?

I am dedicated to representing the people. I want citizens in the

75th District to be aware of what is taking place in their

government and to ensure them that they do have a voice.

2. What do you see as the most critical issue in the November

election?

Charter or private schools. Public money earmarked for public

education should not be used to support them.

3. What would be your pet project in the legislature?

A 75th District Council, to help communities keep in touch with

all of the issues facing the district and the commonwealth.

4. If you were to find extra money as a delegate, would you cut

taxes or restore previously reduced services? Which ones?

The 75th District Council would be the vehicle by which we would

decide how best to use our tax dollars. KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA CANDIDATES

PROFILE BIOGRAPHY HOUSE OF DELEGATES RACE

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