Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 3, 1994 TAG: 9410040055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For a variety of reasons, most political and school organizations are staying out of the election - at least publicly.
That includes the major political parties, which have decided to sit out the School Board election, the first of its kind in the county.
The Roanoke County Education Association is the only organization that is backing candidates in the Nov. 8 contest.
The teachers' group is supporting Tom Leggette in the Windsor Hills District, Michael Stovall in the Vinton District and Jerry Canada, who is running unopposed, in the Hollins District.
The teachers could be a pivotal bloc in the contest, because the School Board members will be chosen by districts rather than by the entire county, which has more than 40,000 voters.
There are 7,652 registered voters in the Vinton District and 10,027 in Windsor Hills. With so many candidates in the race - four in Windsor Hills and three in Vinton - the teachers' support could tip the balance.
The teachers' association has 1,000 members, but not all live in the Windsor Hills and Vinton districts. The group's political committee interviewed the School Board candidates.
Other voter blocs have not endorsed candidates in the election.
The Parent Teacher Association is a rich source of potential voters, but the national organization's bylaws prevent it from endorsing candidates. PTAs can, however, arrange forums to help voters become more informed about the election and issues.
In the Windsor Hills District, a forum will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Cave Spring High School auditorium. At 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, the Vinton District candidates will appear at William E. Cundiff Elementary School.
The Christian Coalition apparently will not become involved in the county school election, despite earlier speculation that it might back candidates.
In some school board campaigns, the organization that was formed by the Rev. Pat Robertson of Virginia Beach has distributed what it describes as voter information guides about candidates and issues.
The coalition of groups from the religious right promotes traditional family values and conservative political causes. It has criticized President Clinton for his ties to liberal groups, and it denounces homosexuals, lesbians and socialists.
Brendan Burke, state field director for the Christian Coalition, would not say whether the group would become involved in the Roanoke County election.
But Mike Russell, director of public relations for the coalition, said the group won't get involved unless there is controversy.
"We don't endorse or make contributions to candidates," Russell said. "It hasn't come to our attention that there is any controversy in the Roanoke County election."
None of the candidates has aligned with the coalition, which claims to have 1.4 million members. Several said they have seen no evidence that the coalition is linked to any candidate.
Democrats and Republicans decided to refrain from a partisan approach in the first School Board election.
State law also discourages partisan school board elections, because candidates are required to collect the signatures of 125 voters. There is no provision for the political parties to nominate candidates, but that does not prohibit them from endorsing candidates.
Hugh Key, chairman of the county Republican Party, personally endorsed Leggette in the Windsor Hills race. That caused some voters to think the Republicans had endorsed Leggette.
"I personally support him, but it had nothing to do with the party," Key said.
Dana Martin, chairman of the county Democratic Party, also endorsed Leggette, but the Democrats aren't backing any candidates.
Key said he expects the political parties to endorse School Board candidates in the next few years. Three members will be chosen this year and two will next year.
"After every seat has been filled one time by the voters, I expect the parties to be involved on the second time around," Key said,
The seats of Chairman Frank Thomas in the Catawba District and Maurice "Buck" Mitchell in Cave Spring will be up for election next year.
County voters approved the switch to an elected School Board last fall. Up to now, School Board members have been chosen by a commission appointed by the county Circuit Court judges
Salem will have a referendum in November on switching to an elected board.
An attempt to get a referendum on the ballot in Roanoke failed because backers did not get the signatures of 10 percent of the registered voters.
by CNB