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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 11, 1995                   TAG: 9504110133
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WINGO TO RUN FOR 3RD TERM

Wingo, 53, a Democrat, announced her re-election bid Monday following a special board meeting to gather public comment on the appointment of School Board members.

She likely will be challenged in November for her Blue Ridge District seat by Art Pendleton, a Republican and Roanoke Gas Co. vice president who is running on a pro-business platform.

Wingo said she hopes to strike a balance between the need for industrial development and quality schools.

She said that quality schools are a drawing card that can be used to attract quality industries.

"One of the first things businesses ask is: `How good are your schools?''' said Wingo, who has been a teacher in Roanoke for 31 years.

Wingo said she is planning a positive campaign.

"I'm not going to concentrate on Mr. Pendleton's campaign," she said. "I'm going to concentrate on mine."

She is the county's representative on the Fifth Planning District Commission, of which she is chairwoman.

She also is a member of the board of directors of the state Planning District Commission and represents Botetourt and several other counties on the board of directors of the Virginia Association of Counties.

That experience enables her to assess problems that are common to many rural counties in Virginia and to try to develop solutions for Botetourt, she said .

"We can't exist as an island," she said. "We need to know what's going on in the rest of the world."

Keywords:
POLITICS