THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030173
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Tuesday is one of the most important days of our lives.
It's Election Day, the time when we select the people who will lead the city and, most importantly, the schools.
The election marks the first time Portsmouth people will elect School Board members. A majority - five persons - of the nine-member board will be chosen by the voters Tuesday.
With 16 people seeking the five seats, anybody can win. That makes everybody's vote even more valuable and citizens should think seriously about the candidates before they cast their votes.
Over the past several weeks, this newspaper has printed a lot of information about the candidates. In addition, the candidates have appeared at forums all over the city to answer questions posed by citizens. Voters have no excuse to go to the polls uninformed.
It's important that we choose candidates who have spoken to the entire city, who have not become mired in special interests.
The schools do not need to be bogged down in neighborhood squabbles that could be created by elected School Board members who may feel beholden to constituents with a single goal or with interests peculiar to a certain section of town.
School Board members must see the big picture if financial and human resources are going to be used to the best advantage. Portsmouth must do the most it can with limited funds.
The schools probably are the single most important ingredient of Portsmouth's future. Economic development efforts and Vision 2005 depend heavily on the quality of public education offered by the schools.
Each vote on Tuesday will count. Each should be cast with knowledge and forethought. And each person should feel responsible for the election.
If we leave our politics to special interests, we deserve whatever we get on the boards that control our destiny. by CNB