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

DATE: SATURDAY, August 13, 1994                   TAG: 9408250029
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SCHOOL BOARD

NELSON HARRIS' election as chairman of the Roanoke School Board is no surprise.

It was clear to everyone who met him when he ran for Roanoke City Council last year that this was a young man - he's 29 - with considerable leadership abilities. One also who has his priorities straight.

While other council candidates were emphasizing economic development, Harris was quick to remind of other needs of the city requiring attention - not the least of which are teen pregnancy and child poverty. Economic development, he said, could not move forward while generations of children are being left behind.

In two previous years on the School Board, Harris was an active member, seeing the need and pushing successfully, for instance, for more school nurses.

A poised and articulate Baptist minister, Harris narrowly lost his bid for council. Roanoke is fortunate, though, that it has not lost his leadership talents and concern for children.

As School Board chairman, he should have ample opportunity to demonstrate both anew.

by CNB