THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996                 TAG: 9604190517
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   39 lines

SUFFOLK TEACHERS BACK 6 IN SCHOOL, COUNCIL RACES

The Education Association of Suffolk endorsed four incumbents and two newcomers for election to the School Board and City Council May 7.

The 611-member association, which primarily represents teachers, played it safe: Both newcomers have ties to city government or public education.

Three School Board seats and three City Council seats are up for grabs. Terms expire this year in the Whaleyville, Nansemond and Sleepy Hole boroughs on each of the governing bodies.

Overall, 13 candidates are running for office: six for the School Board and seven for City Council.

For the board, the association's Political Action Committee voted to endorse:

School Board Chairman Arthur D. Smith of the Nansemond Borough.

The Rev. Mark Croston, board vice chairman, of Whaleyville.

Sleepy Hole's James E. Perkinson Jr., a Tidewater Community College building manager.

For the City Council:

Whaleyville incumbent and Vice Mayor Curtis R. Milteer.

Sleepy Hole incumbent Marian ``Bea'' Rogers.

Nansemond Borough challenger Leroy Bennett, chairman of the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The PAC will contribute about $200 to Bennett's campaign; other candidates sought only the official endorsement, said EAS-PAC Chairwoman Murdly Hicks.

Endorsements also may bring in-kind support, such as teachers or other school district workers offering to help candidates on the campaign trail.

KEYWORDS: WESTERN TIDEWATER CANDIDATES ENDORSEMENT by CNB