ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060055
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Though the race is clear of incumbents now, at least three candidates are running for the two School Board seats up for election in May.
Tuesday evening, School Board Chairman Guy Gentry announced he would not run for another term. Citing the successful launch of a $1.5 million capital project, the eight-year board member said now was the time to step down.
"Because of where we are as a board, I feel like I can step away proud of what we have done, and will do in the future," he said in a news release issued just a few hours before the 7 p.m. deadline for candidates to file forms and petitions to get on the ballot.
Last week, School Board member Chris Strange said he would not run either - he has too many duties as director for campus and college ministries for Calvary Baptist Church.
That clears the way for the three candidates who had filed by late Tuesday: Carter Effler, Chris Harrison and Claudia Van Arsdale.
Effler, supervisor for New River Clinical Lab, spent six years on the School Board. Last year, City Council appointed Spencer Hall to the board instead of Effler. It was one of the last appointments before the switch to elected school boards.
Harrison, a self-employed insurance and investment consultant, also had applied for a position during those last appointments.
Van Arsdale could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Registrar Tracy Howard said another potential candidate, Roberta Nester, planned to have her signatures in by the filing deadline.
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS SCHOOL BOARDby CNB