ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 20, 1996 TAG: 9604220015
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
The Radford Education Association publicly supported two of the three candidates vying for city School Board seats in the May 7 election.
The Political Action Committee of the REA announced Thursday it recommends Carter Effler and Chris Harrison for the two open seats. Roberta Nester, the other candidate in the running, chose not to participate in the selection process.
Of the 114 members in the REA - nearly all the teaching staff in Radford schools - about 90 percent contribute money directly to the PAC.
The PAC sent questionnaires to the applicants, then interviewed the two interested in pursuing the endorsement.
Susan DeHart, chairwoman for the PAC, said Effler and Harrison stressed the need for community and school employee involvement in School Board decisions.
The PAC contributed $200 to the two campaigns and will inform its membership about the two candidates.
Effler, supervisor for New River Clinical Lab, spent six years on the board until last year, when City Council appointed Spencer Hall to the board instead.
Harrison, a self-employed insurance and investment consultant, also had applied for a position during those final appointments last year.
Nester, a registered nurse, said she didn't fill out the questionnaire because she believed the election "wasn't a political thing. I didn't want to be endorsed by anyone."
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS SCHOOL BOARDby CNB