Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 18, 1995 TAG: 9507180042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
That's because this is the first year the board seats are up for public election. Previously, members were appointed by the county Board of Supervisors.
Friday, the Montgomery County Education Association's Political Action Committee recommended one candidate for each district:
District B: Virginia Tech pathologist Bernard Jortner
District E: Radford Army Ammunition Plant union President Michael Smith
District F: Virginia Tech philosophy Professor Jim Klagge
District G: Virginia Tech communications Professor Wat Hopkins.
B.J. Mullins, president of the more than 550-member association, said the PAC committee was looking for candidates who were concerned about public input, aware of school employee morale and supportive of association involvement within the school system.
The PAC, which consists of 150 teachers and other school employees who contribute money directly to the committee, sent out a five-page questionnaire to candidates. Questions ranged from family life curriculum to School Board budget choices. A committee then interviewed each candidate.
Hopkins said Monday that the procedure was thorough, and he hoped the recommendations would have an impact both on school employees and the general public.
"Particularly if they understand the process - that this was an educated decision and not something done lightly - then people have to at least consider the recommendations," he said.
Klagge, who spent three hours responding to the survey, said he was pleased to gain support from a respected organization.
"I hope it will show that I have legitimacy with one of the most important factors, and that is teachers," he said.
Two of the 10 candidates did not participate: Jack LeDoux, a candidate in District E, and Bob Anderson, director of the Straight Street teen center who's running in District B.
LeDoux, a retired Virginia Tech Engineering professor and chairman of the local Christian Coalition chapter, said he did not have time to respond because his wife had heart bypass surgery last month.
"But I probably wouldn't have answered anyway," he said Monday. "I don't particularly care who they support, frankly."
Both LeDoux and Anderson said they didn't like the PAC's policy of keeping candidate responses confidential.
"I'm the people's candidate. I'll speak in a public forum," Anderson said. "This is a nonpartisan race. ... I don't want to appear that I'm taking sides."
The responses are released to members, Mullins said.
Money raised by the PAC will help the selected candidate's campaigns, Mullins said.
More importantly, said Hopkins, the group will advise candidates on how to campaign.
"The last time I ran for elected office was when I was a junior in college," Hopkins said. "I won't decide what to do until I get some advice."
Hopkins said he will balance the association's opinions with others.
Mullins said the PAC plans to encourage members to register and vote, notifying them of upcoming forums and debates.
Thursday, the four candidates who received the endorsements will speak at the Montgomery County Mainstream Citizens' July meeting.
Monica Appleby, coordinator for the nonpartisan group, said members chose the four to clarify separation of church and state issues.
The public is encouraged to attend the meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center
The League of Women Voters and the Parent Teacher Associations will hold a debate on Oct.19 for all School Board candidates.
by CNB