THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605040125
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Unopposed candidates willing to share views
I want to commend Ms. Dolores M. Firnstahl for her commitment to her civic duty as a citizen and taxpayer. I hope a majority of voters will take the time to become informed and vote on May 7 for School Board and City Council members.
However, I must address some statements in her letter to the editor that appeared in the Beacon (May 3). I have not and will not neglect to share my views with voters or communicate with my constituents. When I said that I was not seeking endorsements, I was referring to those special interest groups and The Virginian-Pilot that asked all candidates if they wanted to be endorsed. The Virginian-Pilot asked me and the other candidates to respond to a questionnaire if we wanted to be endorsed by the paper. I have responded to questions published in previous Beacon (March 10, April 14) and Virginian-Pilot (April 21) issues. Also, as a member of the School Board, voters can tune in to VBTV or come to a School Board meeting to hear my views. I thought it would behoove the groups and The Virginian-Pilot to sort through the contested races for the voters since I was appointed to and am running unopposed for the Blackwater Borough School Board seat. I am a sitting member of the School Board; therefore, I am on the payroll of the taxpayers. I felt taxpayers would prefer I earn my keep by learning and doing the job instead of heavy campaigning. As far as communicating with my constituents, I visit schools, attend community group meetings, serve on several boards and get involved in the political process as a candidate and voter and most importantly I listen.
Additionally, my phone number and address are a matter of public record and I would be happy to hear the views of the citizens at any time.
Delceno C. Miles
May 3
I would like to respond to letters in the May 3 edition from Dolores M. Firnstahl and Ralph W. Furtner.
I understand the voters' disappointment that I did not respond to questions from the Beacon. The reason I did not respond was because I was under the impression that these questions and answers would be used by the editorial board of the Beacon only for the purpose of deciding which candidates the newspaper would endorse. Had I known that the answers to these questions would be published, then I would have gladly responded. I had answered all previous questions asked and printed by the newspaper.
I feel that I have put myself under the same scrutiny as other candidates by making myself available to the public. I have also been approached at several forums by both voters and candidates who commended me for frequently being present since I am running unopposed for the Beach Borough School Board seat.
I would like to answer the questions from the April 26 Beacon:
Yes, the 1996-97 School Board budget is adequate.
Yes, I am in favor of charter schools. I would support a pilot program as long as the schools meet all state regulations.
Yes, I favor vouchers, however, the voucher issue is not one decided by local school boards.
Yes, I do support periodic testing of teachers.
Yes, I believe creationism should be taught as a theory along with the theory of evolution.
Prayer in school should be permitted on a voluntary basis led by students, not the educators.
I believe the most important curriculum is the basics - reading, writing and arithmetic.
Arthur Thomas Tate
May 3
KEYWORDS: VIRGINA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE ELECTION by CNB