ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 6, 1992                   TAG: 9203060278
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

UNIFIED ELECTIONS SOUGHT BY WILDER

Gov. Douglas Wilder said Thursday he wants legislation that would permit elected school boards to be revised to schedule the elections at the same time city councils and county supervisors are chosen.

Wilder also suggested that school board terms be staggered in localities that have staggered terms for boards of supervisors or council members, and that school board members serve terms the same length as those of members of the local governing body.

The bill's sponsor, Del. David Brickley, D-Woodbridge, said he expects no problems with Wilder's proposal on the House floor. "It pushes the elections back," but doesn't affect the date of the referendum to permit elected boards.

The amendment would mean that the first school board elections would take place in 1995 in counties and 1996 in most cities where voters approve the option in referendums. The bill passed by the General Assembly last month allowed elections beginning in 1994.

Virginia is the only state that bars school board elections. Board members are appointed by the local governing body or a court panel.

The bill breezed through the House 77-23, but ran into resistance in the Senate before passing 24-15.

After the elected-school board bill passed both Houses, Wilder said he supported the concept.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 


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