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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 10, 1995                   TAG: 9506120036
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MORE WORKING TO MEET SCHOOL PETITION DEADLINE

So far, five candidates have turned in required petitions for Montgomery County's first School Board elections. But four potential candidates are working to complete their list of signatures by the Tuesday, 7 p.m. deadline.

Michael A. Smith of Thomas Lane in Blacksburg was the latest to add his name to the list of candidates Friday morning. Smith is seeking a seat in District E, which covers the Merrimac, Prices Fork and McCoy section of the county.

Smith could not be reached Friday for comment.

Victor Sheppard, a Radford Army Ammunitions Plant worker, also has turned in the required signatures for District E, a post held by Lou Herrmann. Herrmann decided not to run in the fall.

Christian Coalition Chairman and retired Virginia Tech professor Jack LeDoux plans to run for the District E seat, but so far, he has not filed with the county clerk.

In District F, which covers parts of Hethwood, Toms Creek Road and Laurel Ridge, the only official candidate is Jim Klagge. Klagge, a Virginia Tech philosophy professor, turned in his petition containing more than 200 signatures, Thursday afternoon.

Retired Army Col. Dick Edwards, who also plans to run for the District F seat, has not finished collecting his signatures. Edwards is the current board member for that district.

Board member Peggy Arrington and Virginia Tech professor Wat Hopkins both have turned in their petitions for the District G seat. District G encompasses the Woodbine subdivision and is bordered by North Main Street and Happy Hollow Road.

Joe Painter, a Blacksburg lawyer, said last month that he plans to also run for the District G seat, but his petition has not been filed.

Elsewhere in the county, only one seat is left uncontested. District B, which covers parts of Christiansburg and Ellett Valley, is held by Bob Goncz. But Goncz is the Democratic nominee for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors and will not run for the School Board this year.

Bob Anderson, who runs the Straight Street Teen Center, said he plans to run for the District B seat and had just begun collecting signatures at the end of May.