Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990 TAG: 9006050411
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Whitlock was selected over current School Board Chairman Dale Profitt for the seat in District B-81, commonly known as the Little River District. Her four-year term begins July 1.
The vote was 4-0 for Whitlock, with one abstention. The vote came after both candidates were interviewed by the supervisors in executive session.
"I just feel she will be an asset to the [school] board at this time," said Board of Supervisors Chairman William Whitlock, no relation, who represents District B-81 and made the motion to appoint Cheryl Whitlock.
William Whitlock declined to say what happened in the interviews, but did indicate they were the basis of his decision.
The abstention came from David Ingram.
"I would have had trouble supporting either candidate," Ingram explained. "It was not a `no' vote for Ms. Whitlock or a `yes' vote for Mr. Profitt. I would like to have seen a third candidate."
Cheryl Whitlock said she had no immediate objectives as a School Board member. "I'll just have to wait and see," she said. "I figured it would be hard to beat Mr. Profitt. . . . I thought he was a good School Board member. But this is something I wanted to do."
Cheryl Whitlock works as an office manager and bookkeeper at the IGA Grocery in Floyd. For about 10 years, she was a substitute teacher in the county schools.
Whitlock has been active in the PTA and several civic groups, including the rescue squad, the Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association. She graduated from high school in West Virginia before moving to Floyd County and later received training as a beautician at the Loraine T. Davis Beauty School in Roanoke.
Profitt has been on the School Board since October 1985. He was the first person appointed to the School Board when the supervisors began making appointments in 1986.
An attorney who received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Richmond, Profitt becomes the second School Board chairman in as many years not to be reappointed. Last year, Arnold Simmons did not seek reappointment because of disagreements with the supervisors.
"I told Cheryl she has my sympathy," said a philosophical Profitt. He also said that by not being reappointed, he would not feel the need to pass up an opportunity to seek elected office. The next county election is in 1991.
Also Monday, the supervisors approved the $11.56 million county budget for 1990-91.
by CNB