Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 13, 1993 TAG: 9307130278
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And County Supervisor Ed Kohinke would like to keep it that way.
That's why he's fighting the measure now, instead of waiting to see if fellow Supervisor Harry Nickens and his followers come up with the 4,541 signatures needed by Aug. 4.
"I'm hoping that by throwing out some opposition that'll slow it down some," Kohinke said.
Kohinke launched an organization Monday called "It ain't broke," on the premise that Roanoke County's system of appointing School Board members works just fine the way it is, so "don't fix it."
The volunteer organization - which so far has a membership of one - will create a network of people to speak to parent and civic organizations, write letters to the editor and spread opposition to elected school boards by word of mouth, Kohinke said.
He argues that electing School Board members would create tension between the new political body and the Board of Supervisors and would eventually lead to taxing authority for school boards.
That's not necessary, Kohinke said, when "we've got a great system as it is, here in Roanoke County. It's one of the best in the state."
It also flies in the face of the democratic principles on which this country was founded, said Nickens.
In Roanoke County, School Board members are appointed by a committee that interviews candidates without public input, he said. Judges, who are appointed by the General Assembly, appoint the committee.
The committee makes decisions that should be trusted to "the people in Roanoke County," Nickens said.
He's confident those people will come through with enough signatures to put the measure to a public vote.
"We will have it on the ballot," he said.
Nickens said it didn't matter whether the issue made it to the ballot this year or next. Voters won't be able to elect a school board in Roanoke County until 1995 at the earliest, to synchronize the new structure with elections for the Board of Supervisors.
He refused to say how many signatures he and a dozen people circulating petitions had gathered.
"I'd prefer not to give out that number at this point so that our folks will continue to work and not be overly optimistic or discouraged," Nickens said.
But County Registrar Elizabeth Leah said her office received 1,590 signatures from Nickens and his supporters as of Monday. Of those, she discarded 155 signatures because the voters were not registered in Roanoke County.
To put a measure to popular vote, supporters must gather signatures from 10 percent of those who were registered to vote in the county as of January. Petitions are submitted to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, who turns the signatures over to the registrar for verification.
Petitions to put elected school boards on the ballot are reportedly circulating in several localities throughout the area, including Bedford, Botetourt and Franklin counties and the city of Salem.
In Montgomery County, supporters of such a measure are within 210 signatures of putting the issue to a vote, Registrar Sandra Chapin said. Pulaski County voters approved elected school boards last year by an 8,500-vote margin.
In Roanoke County, a "yes" vote for elected school boards could mean a "no" vote for the current board, Chairman Frank Thomas said.
"Not one of five members would run," he said, basing his statement on informal conversations he has had with other board members.
Board members Barbara "Bootie" Chewning and Maurice "Buck" Mitchell confirmed that they would likely step down from the board if they were required to run for elected office.
The other two members, Charlsie Pafford and Jerry Canada, could not be reached for comment.
Thomas said he feared an elected school board would attract people with "one-item agendas" and discourage the most qualified from running because it would require too much time and money.
He said he knew of no opposition to the way the current board was doing its job and that he received only about a dozen complaints related to the school system each year.
"I would have to agree with Mr. Kohinke," he said. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
by CNB