THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 5, 1994 TAG: 9410050733
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
School Board member Charles W. Vincent was indicted Tuesday in connection with his solicitation of campaign contributions from architecture and construction firms seeking business with the board.
Commonwealth's Attorney Robert J. Humphreys could not be reached Tuesday for comment or further details on the nine-count indictment.
``I'm going to fight it,'' Vincent said Tuesday night.
Albert D. Alberi, chief deputy commonwealth's attorney, said earlier that his office began an investigation last month of whether Vincent had violated the Virginia Public Procurement Act, a misdemeanor criminal offense that also could carry civil penalties.
The inquiry focused on letters Vincent sent to local architecture and construction firms asking them for money to help retire $4,600 in debt left over from his spring campaign.
The investigation reportedly began when one of the firms Vincent solicited gave the commonwealth's attorney's office a copy of the letter.
Vincent was one of two School Board members on a committee whose task was to review proposals from firms seeking contracts for school building projects.
The firms he solicited had appeared before the committee for interviews in late August.
Vincent resigned his post on that committee last week.
School Board members said Tuesday night that they were unsure what effect, if any, the charges against Vincent would have on board operations.
Vincent, in an interview last week, defended his request for the donations.
``I don't see where I've done anything wrong,'' he said. ``I will admit that I'm new to politics. I tried to comply with what I understood were correct procedures in fund raising.''
Vincent said he got an OK from state Board of Elections officials before soliciting the funds.
Vincent was elected to the board in May after a contentious, four-month race. He was one of six candidates endorsed by the city's powerful teachers association. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Charles W. Vincent
by CNB