THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603090207
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Kevin Armstrong
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Imagine if you walked into work Monday and learned that you and your co-workers were asked to vote on who your new boss should be. Let's say that you would have to choose from among your colleagues.
Think of all the brown-nosers and corporate ladder-climbers that would come to mind as candidates because you know they've always wanted that promotion. Then consider the people you respect the most and whom you might actually enjoy working under their leadership.
Whom would you elect?
That answer comes easy for some of us who work for small firms. But what about large companies? This newspaper employs about 1,700 folks. Choosing a leader from such a large crowd would afford me many options.
I wonder, though, how many of us would be scared off by size alone? How many of us might say, ``my vote doesn't really matter, so I'm not going to bother.''
Sound far fetched? Think again.
On May 7 you will have such an opportunity. It won't be the person who signs your paychecks at the office or decides your next raise, but it will be every bit as important.
In fact, these people won't be giving you a paycheck; they'll be deciding how much of your company check to spend!
If any good can come of the current financial mess our city schools are facing, it's this: these elected folks play important roles in our lives.
In eight weeks, you will be asked to elect several bosses.
Some of them will have the authority to decide what kind of education our children receive. They will help shape the lives of this generation in ways none of us individually can.
Others will govern everything from how much money you pay for those pesky windshield stickers to how much you owe for enjoying the American dream of home ownership. They'll decide if you can cruise along Atlantic Avenue in search of fun and whether you can park that old clunker along the curb.
Make no mistake that they are your bosses. Just as someone at your place of employment is placed in charge of what transpires there, members of the City Council and the School Board govern the public affairs of our town.
You can bet that at least two large groups in this city will be paying close attention: city and school workers. In their cases, these folks double as their professional bosses and civic ones as well.
Remember two years ago how involved the teachers association was in that election?
They turned out on election day and had a big say in the outcome.
Imagine that in your company election you decided not to vote as did many of the folks in your department. But what if all the folks in that other division on the second floor turned out en masse? Are you willing to let them decide your fate?
Every department in this city has a vote - from newcomers to natives, retirees to working stiffs, minorities to majorities. Each has to exercise their rights.
It won't be an easy task, though.
Picking someone at work to lead you is easier because you likely already know the field well.
The list of candidates for these civic offices numbers 60. That means you'll have to do some homework. Don't wait until election eve to do some cramming. Start today. Look over the people profiled on pages 18 to 27.
That's only the first week's assignment. Keep in mind this will be a two-month course.
And while you're at it, look out for those folks who in the end seem more interested in holding the position than in doing the work. After all, you wouldn't want to be working for someone like that, would you?
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL
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