THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080288
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Charles W. Vincent, the School Board member indicted this week on nine ethics charges, resigned Thursday from four assignments given him by the board. Vincent has given no indication that he intends to step down from the board.
No civic or political leaders in Virginia Beach have called publicly for Vincent's resignation from the board.
Most School Board members declined comment. Privately, some express concern that the incident distracts them and the public from focusing on educational issues.
``I think we need to focus on the school year, the children and what we need to do for them now,'' said June T. Kernutt, board vice chairwoman. ``That's what's important now. And I think we can do that.''
Vincent made his committee resignations Thursday to School Board Chairman James R. Darden in a letter, which was copied and provided to all board members Friday. Vincent said in the letter his resignations would stand ``until such time as a resolution is reached in my current indictments . . . ''
Vincent was appointed by the board in July to serve as a representative to the Virginia School Boards Association and to act as an alternate in representing the board to a local committee discussing the actions of the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
He also was appointed to sit on various committees, such as a student discipline committee, an indoor air quality committee charged with reviewing plans to correct ventilation problems in schools, and an architect review committee, which interviews architecture and construction firms for school building projects.
Vincent resigned from the architect review committee last week after reports that he had requested campaign contributions from firms the committee interviewed in late August.
Vincent was indicted Monday on nine counts of ethics violations under the Virginia Public Procurement Act for soliciting the funds. His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
Vincent refused to comment on the charges late this week. ILLUSTRATION: Virginia Beach School Board member Charles W. Vincent resigned
from the assignments Thursday.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD by CNB