Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995 TAG: 9508170086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roark has shown strong support for education and has an impressive record of participation in school affairs and volunteer work, said Kitty Boitnott, chairwoman of the Roanoke County Education Association's political action committee.
The committee also voted Wednesday to support Democrat Spike Harrison for the Board of Supervisors in the Catawba District.
Boitnott said the committee has declined to recommend a School Board candidate ``at this time'' in the Cave Spring District.
She said that all three candidates in the Cave Spring District are acceptable to the teachers group, and the committee does not not want to make a recommendation.
``We are reserving the right to recommend someone in Cave Spring as the election gets nearer,'' Boitnott said. ``We don't see enough difference at this point to make a recommendation.''
The Cave Spring District candidates are Carol White, a medical technologist and school volunteer; Vern Jordahl, a professor at the College of Health Sciences; and William Irvin III, an insurance salesman.
Roark, a businesswoman and school volunteer, is running in a three-way contest in the Catawba District. Her opponents are William Brown Jr., owner of a rental center, and John Reed, retired owner of a copy center.
From the teachers' viewpoint, Boitnott said, Roark was ``the strongest candidate by far, because she is very knowledgeable about schools and has a history of involvement with county schools.''
Boitnott said Roark has been a school volunteer and Parent-Teacher Association leader for many years.
Roark, president of Salem Software Service, is running as an independent, as are all School Board candidates. State law prohibits them from running on party tickets.
Boitnott said the committee will give $500 to Roark's campaign. The money was contributed by members of the committee, an arm of the RCEA. No funds from RCEA membership dues are used for political contributions, she said.
The committee also will contribute $500 to Harrison's campaign. Harrison, a government and history teacher at Glenvar High School, is running in a four-way race for the Board of Supervisors.
Boitnott said the teachers will back Harrison because of his views on education, not because he is a teacher.
The other candidates in the Catawba contest are Republican Warren Brown Jr. and independents Douglas Chandler Graham and Robert Crouse.
The committee also will endorse Cave Spring Supervisor Fuzzy Minnix, who is running for re-election. The teachers offered to contribute $200 to Minnix's campaign, but he declined it because he has no opposition.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB