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

DATE: MONDAY, October 24, 1994                   TAG: 9410240091
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES AGREE ON ISSUES

If voters are looking for differences, they'll find them mostly in personalities and styles. On the major issues, there's little disagreement.

Voters in the Windsor Hills District will have a choice of four candidates: Richard Cullinan, Thomas Leggette, Lisa Merrill and Wayne Newman.

In the Vinton District, there are three candidates: Evelyn Ball, Robert Rouse and Michael Stovall. Jerry Canada is running unopposed in the Hollins District.

All are in their 40s except Stovall, who is 32.

All have children in county schools. All are members of the Parent-Teacher Association and participate in other school activities.

All attended college. Most have a bachelor's degree. Two have master's degrees and one has a law degree.

All are running as independents. All are making their first try for elected office.

Each is running a low-budget campaign. None has spent more than $1,350. One has spent nothing.

None are affiliated with the Christian Coalition or religious right. Rouse advocates family values on some issues, but he said he is not linked to any evangelical groups.

None of the candidates in the Windsor Hills and Vinton districts are facing incumbents. The incumbents, Charlsie Pafford and Barbara "Bootie" Chewning, chose not to run. In Hollins, Canada is an incumbent, but no one is opposing him.

And now for a few differences:

Three candidates were born and raised in the Roanoke Valley: Newman, Rouse and Stovall. Two moved to the county from elsewhere in Virginia: Cullinan and Leggette. And two came from outside the state: Ball and Merrill.

Cullinan is the only one who has served on the board. He was a member from 1985 to 1989 when the board was appointed by a selection commission named by the Roanoke County circuit judges.

Merrill is the only one who has taught in public schools - in four states before she moved to the Roanoke Valley.

Keywords:
POLITICS