Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 9, 1995 TAG: 9502090096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
One member who took office after the first election in May has resigned and another may lose his seat if a judge accepts a jury's verdict that he violated a state ethics law.
A petition campaign began Wednesday to oust Charles W. Vincent, a newly-elected member. A jury concluded last month that Vincent violated a law that bars public officials with procurement duties from seeking gifts from contractors.
``I don't believe in throwing the baby out with the wash,'' said John T. Early Jr., chairman of Kids First, the school support organization petitioning for Vincent's removal. ``I really believe we've got to work with direct election, but we've got to improve it.''
``Elected school boards don't guarantee you great school boards,'' said Vickie Hendley, president of the Virginia Beach Education Association. ``Neither did appointed boards.''
But Samuel Meekins, a former School Board chairman who opposed elected school boards, said such campaigns tend to have low profiles and attract political unknowns. ``I don't think a lot of people even knew what the issues were,'' said Meekins, who declined to defend his seat.
Virginia Beach was among the first localities in the state to elect School Board members. Virginia in 1992 became the last state in the nation to permit such procedures.
In the inaugural campaign last spring, 24 candidates battled for six seats on the 11-member board. A 20-candidate City Council race also competed for voter attention.
Vincent, who was elected to the school board, was a political novice who was indicted four months after taking office. The indictment alleged he solicited money from school contractors to pay off his campaign debt.
Circuit Judge Thomas Shadrick has withheld entry of the verdict until he decides whether Vincent, who had served on a committee that evaluated the contractors, willfully violated the law.
Vincent has resisted efforts to remove him until the case is settled. Shadrick has said he will rule Feb. 22.
In an unrelated development, James Darden, the School Board's new chairman, resigned only seven months into his four-year term because of a medical problem in his family.
Ulysses Van Spiva, another board member who was elected last May, said experience with elections will help voters as time goes on.
Meekins, however, said he believes accountability was greater when board members reported to City Council. ``I just wonder how many people today would vote for elected school boards ... in the wake of all this,'' he said.
by CNB