Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1993 TAG: 9311030310
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Should School Board members be elected by popular vote?
Yes 18,705 (65 percent)
No 9,858 (35 percent)
Should the Board of Supervisors appoint School Board members?
Yes 10,807 (41 percent)
No 15,269 (59 percent)
Despite persistent confusion over two conflicting ballot questions, voters in Roanoke County overwhelmingly chose to elect their School Board members by popular vote.
Still, the nearly 2-1 margin was somewhat less resounding than in other localities across the state, where elected school boards passed by margins as high as 8-1.
"The fact that it's only 2-1 here shows there were a lot of people who wanted it to remain the same. Of course, nowhere near enough," said School Board Chairman Frank Thomas, who has said he would not run for the board if voters turned it into an elected body.
Vinton District Supervisor Harry Nickens said the victory came despite the confusion surrounding the second question. He believes it was placed on the ballot to hurt the elected School Board movement, which he led. The second referendum gave voters the option of allowing the Board of Supervisors to appoint the School Board.
The second question was placed there to give voters a choice, not to confuse them, said Windsor Hills District Supervisor Lee Eddy. But confuse them it did.
"It was horrible," said voter Shirley Woodson, who had difficulty deciphering the ballot questions even though she was familiar with the issue. "I still don't know really what's going on."
by CNB