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

DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996                TAG: 9604300298
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                     LENGTH: Short :   47 lines

2 CANDIDATES WITHDRAW FROM SCHOOL BOARD RACE IN BEACH

Two candidates for the School Board withdrew from the race Monday, citing family and professional reasons for ending their campaigns one week before the May 7 election.

Kenneth R. Sigmon withdrew his bid for a two-year, at-large seat on the board, and Frankland P. Babonis ended his run for the Princess Anne Borough seat.

Babonis' exit leaves only two candidates fighting for the borough seat - accountant Archie Wilber DeBaun Jr. and Virginia State Trooper H.L. ``Les'' Powell Jr.

Thirteen candidates are vying for the two-year, at-large seat that Sigmon had sought. Sigmon is the third candidate to drop from that race since the campaigning began.

Sigmon dropped out of the race Monday after resigning from his position as chief operating officer and executive vice president of Commonwealth College, which operates campuses in Virginia Beach, Hampton and Richmond. His resignation was announced amid a change in leadership at the college.

Sigmon said he decided not to seek the board seat because of the time he must devote to his upcoming job search as well as the commitment a new job might require.

Sigmon had been at his post at Commonwealth College since 1992. Previously, the 43-year-old Oklahoma native had been institute director with Bryant & Stratton's Penn Can campus in Syracuse, N.Y.

He said that he and his wife and four children plan to remain in Virginia Beach.

Babonis cited family reasons for his withdrawal Monday night.

``It is because of my concern for my family, and my wife's health,'' he said. ``I need to concentrate more on my family.''

Babonis' wife, Margaret, was found to be fully disabled last month by a Social Security court in Norfolk.

The Babonises have three children, the youngest a student at Ocean Lakes High School.

Babonis, 44, said he plans to run for the School Board again in two years.

KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD RACE CANDIDATE by CNB