ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 2, 1996 TAG: 9604020065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Four finalists remain in the running for two Roanoke School Board seats that City Council must fill by July1.
Eight people applied for the posts, but one applicant has withdrawn and council voted Monday to interview only four of the candidates. They are:
* Charles Day, a retired school principal and teacher who has been on the board for six years. He is a former chairman of the board.
* Martin Jeffrey, director of community development and outreach for Total Action Against Poverty, an anti-poverty agency.
* James Lowe Jr., head of construction administration for Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, an architectural and engineering firm.
* Brian Wishneff, former chief of economic development for the city who now has his own consultant firm.
Barry Thomas, director of rates and tariffs for American Electric Power Co. in Virginia and Tennessee, withdrew his application Monday, citing business commitments.
The other applicants were James Beatty, city personnel administrator; Earl Gurtner, an executive sales consultant; and Farley Childress, a retired solider in the U.S. Army. They are no longer under consideration.
Under the selection procedure, council can interview up to three applicants for each seat. But it can interview a smaller number, if it wishes.
Only four applicants were nominated for interviews. Vice Mayor William White nominated Day; Councilman Wendell Butler, Jeffrey; Councilman Jack Parrott, Lowe; and Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles, Wishneff.
Board member Finn Pincus, whose term ends June 30, is not seeking reappointment. Pincus, track and cross-country coach at Roanoke College, said he wants to devote more time to his job and to pursue other goals. A board member for six years, Pincus is a former chairman.
Council will hold a public hearing on the finaliston April 15 at 7 p.m. in City Hall. It will publicly interview them April 25 at 6 p m. and make the appointments in May.
Most cities and counties in Western Virginia have switched to the election of school board members, but Roanoke and Salem have kept the appointed system.
Roanoke has a seven-member board with staggered terms. The members are paid $2,400 a year.
Have a question for the Roanoke School Board candidates? Let us know so we can follow up. Write Joel Turner, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010, or e-mail roatimesinfi.net or fax 981-3346.
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