THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060615
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
They are accountants and parents, retired Navy officers and computer-firm executives, and each has answered a call to civic duty by running for the School Board.
Following weeks of discouraging news about their school system, an unprecedented 41 people were qualified by Tuesday to run in what promises to be among the most unusual elections in the city's history.
The number could grow to 50 by today when workers in the Voter Registrar's office, who were sent home tired Tuesday evening, return to complete unprocessed applications.
Among those in the running is Donald F. Bennis, the only School Board member to announce he is running to retain his seat. Bennis, an attorney, has been on the board for a year and was not among those asked to step down by the special grand jury last month.
But Bennis was scolded for being among the seven board members to reinstate Mordecai L. Smith as director of budget development on a probationary basis. Bennis expects the vote to be a recurring issue in the campaign.
``There's no doubt I'm going to hear about this report again and again,'' he said.
Board member Karen O'Brien, who emerged unscathed from the grand jury report, will not run for re-election to the Lynnhaven post she has held for a year. She cited the need for new ideas.
While current board members were discussing their resignations at Tuesday's meeting, the men and women who seek their jobs began to emerge.
Among them was James A. Grace, a 44-year-old educational specialist with D.P. Associates Inc., a computer-based training firm.
``I had been toying with the idea for some time and the latest issue with the budget helped me make up my mind,'' Grace said. ``I have three kids in the system, and they are what's at stake for me.''
Steven M. Emmanuel, a 36-year-old philosophy teacher at Virginia Wesleyan College, said he, too, had given long thought to running and decided to try after reports surfaced of trouble within the district.
``I see this as a matter of civic duty,'' said Emmanuel, the father of two with one on the way. ``I am happy to be part of this, whether my candidacy is successful or not. It is important for all of us not to become too cynical about our community.'' MEMO: Staff Writer Aleta Payne contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: STEVE EARLEY color photo/The Virginian-Pilot
Kathleen M. Damon, right, and Rosemary Wilson turn in papers Tuesday
at the Registrar's Office to run for the Virginia Beach School
Board.
Photo
STEVE EARLEY/The Virginian-Pilot
From left, Aubrey F. Mitchell II, Michael B. Moore and Rosemary
Wilson file papers Tuesday to run for the Virginia Beach School
Board. General Registrar Marlene Hagar, right, assists them.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS by CNB