THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 6, 1996 TAG: 9601060252
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
The race for an open school board seat is heating up in Pasquotank County, but no newcomers have shown interest yet in three county commissioners' positions that are up for grabs this spring.
Three candidates have filed for the at-large Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Board of Education seat to be vacated by incumbent Robert Thorne: Frank A. Jennings III and Carl G. Conner of Weeksville, and Rodney Robinson of Park Street in Elizabeth City.
Two other board seats are available this year, one of which was vacated by School Board Chairman Marion Harris from the outside-city district. Board member Peggy McPherson, from inside the city, filed to keep her seat on Wednesday.
For the three county commissioners seats, only two incumbents, Chairman Zee Lamb and Commissioner Hugh Clinkscales have filed. Davis Sawyer, the longtime Pasquotank County sheriff appointed to fill a vacancy last year, has indicated he will not run for the post.
The filing period remains open through Feb. 5.
Conner, 67, is a retired minister who has taught at the college level and whose wife teaches sixth grade science at Pasquotank Elementary. He said he is running because he has the time and the background and believes he can serve the community.
Conner said a key issue facing the district is discipline, and he praised the system's recent efforts to tackle the issue.
``This is one of the most serious problems that the school system faces,'' Conner said. ``You can't talk with a teacher in this city that isn't frustrated with discipline problems.''
Robinson, 40, has children at J.C. Sawyer and H.L. Trigg elementaries. The funeral home owner finished a term on the Elizabeth City State University Board of Trustees last year.
``I just feel real strongly about the welfare and education of our children,'' Robinson said. ``I'm a youth advocate, and I'm one that believes in the growth of the school system.''
Jennings, 46, is a field representative for the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management with two children in the public schools.
By the end of the week in Camden County, all three county commissioners up for re-election had filed to keep their seats: Larry G. Lamb, Samuel K. Shaw Sr. and J.C. Rountree.
No one has yet put in for two available Camden Board of Education seats, which some dissatisfied residents had promised last fall would be contentious. Board members Kenneth L. Winslow and David E. Meiggs are up for re-election but have yet to file.
For the register of deeds post, Republican Kristina Sawyer Corprew has filed. Democratic incumbent Betty Mae Jones has not.
In Currituck, only three people had filed by the end of the week: incumbent register of deeds Charlene Dowdy, incumbent County Commissioner Gene Gregory of Crawford Township, and incumbent School Board member Janet Taylor of Moyock. MEMO: Staff Writer Anne Saita contributed to this story.
by CNB