THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996 TAG: 9601250184
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
How much did it cost to chase a seat in the city's first School Board election last month?
On average, the 11 candidates spent about $2,408 each.
But five candidates spent considerably less than that, including Renee Hannas, an unsuccessful candidate who didn't spend a dime.
The tabs were detailed in reports filed earlier this month. Of the five biggest spenders, three were incumbents, all of whom held on to their seats: Barbara B. Head, James M. Reeves Sr. and Roderic A. Taylor.
Newcomer Jeffrey A. Rowland, a sales representative for Jacobson Metal Co., outstripped everyone in spending with $7,408.04. The spending paid off with a big win: Rowland was the only newcomer elected to the nine-member board.
He said he found out what people expected from their schools and shaped his agenda around those issues, focusing on academic basics, school crowding and district expenses. He also attributed part of his victory to an advertising blitz.
Incumbent L. Thomas Bray spent only $1,254.15 on his campaign, but he, too, pulled off a victory.
For the losers, campaign spending buys experience, not power.
Theodore G. Nance, a retired railroad brakeman and conductor, was the biggest spender among those who didn't win a seat. He spent $2,642.52.
The other four board seats are up for election in May. ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
The following School Board contributions and expenses were
reported up to Dec. 31:
Bailey Sr., Donald J.
Total contributions: $735
Total expenses: $1,071.77
Bray, L. Thomas
Total contributions: $1,257.99
Total expenses: $1,254.15
Hannas, Renee
Total contributions: $0
Total expenses: $0
Head, Barbara B.
Total contributions: $3,050
Total expenses: $2,743.14
Mazur, Mary F.
Total contributions: $840
Total expenses: $840
Murphy, Harry A.
Total contributions: $1,620
Total expenses: $1,439.20
Nance, Theodore G.
Total contributions: $2,350
Total expenses: $2,642.52
Reeves Sr., James M.
Total contributions: $4,597
Total expenses: $4,233.17
Rowland, Jeffrey A.
Total contributions: $8,268.96
Total expenses: $7,408.04
Taylor, Roderic A.
Total contributions: $2,745
Total expenses: $2,695.05
Woods, Michael J.
Total contributions: $2,242.71
Total expenses: $2,164.98
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION CAMPAIGN
FINANCE by CNB