Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994                   TAG: 9403200102
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ELECTION WITHOUT POLITICS?

The state law governing school board elections discourages a partisan approach. There is no provision for political parties to nominate school board candidates.

Instead, candidates may be placed on the ballot only by filing a petition containing the signatures of 125 registered voters, the same procedure required for independents to get on the ballot for local elected offices.

County Attorney Paul Mahoney said the law is designed to help prevent the School Board election from becoming a partisan fight.

In addition to the ban on political parties nominating candidates for the board, a county Democratic leader said he doubts his party will become involved in the election.

"I don't anticipate it becoming partisan. I don't expect us to endorse candidates," said Dana Martin, chairman of the county Democratic Committee.

Al Thomason, chairman of the county Republican Committee, said he believes the GOP would be willing to take a nonpartisan approach, if the Democrats would do the same.

"If that is what they want, we could have candidates who are education-minded rather than politically motivated," he said.

If the Democrats take a partisan approach, Thomason said the Republicans will do likewise.

Apparently, there is nothing to prevent political parties from endorsing candidates, even though they are prohibited from nominating them. School Board candidates could run on unofficial tickets with partisan candidates for the Board of Supervisors, Mahoney said.

County voters approved the switch to an elected School Board last fall. Before the change can be implemented, however, the county must seek the approval of the General Assembly and the U.S. Justice Department.

During its recent session, the state legislature approved a change in the county's charter to allow the election of School Board members. Board members are now chosen by a selection commission.

Mahoney said the charter bill is awaiting Gov. George Allen's signature. He expects the governor to sign it.

The county must obtain the Justice Department's approval because Virginia is under the jurisdiction of the Voting Rights Act. Localities may not create or change voting plans without clearance by the federal agency.

The county is operating on a tight schedule to get the plan approved in time for the election to be held in November, Mahoney said. The deadline for candidates to get on the ballot is June 14.

The Justice Department has 60 days to make a decision. It can delay the decision for an additional 60 days if it has questions about the change.

To speed the approval process, Mahoney sent the plan to the federal agency last month so it could begin its review. The 60-day review period won't begin officially until Allen signs the bill, but Mahoney said the federal agency has already begun its review.

Based on conversations with Justice Department officials, Mahoney said he doesn't anticipate any trouble in getting the plan approved.

"I think everything is OK. There could be a timing problem, but I am not aware of any objections to the change," Mahoney said.

Three board seats will be on the ballot in November: the Hollins, Vinton and Windsor Hills districts.

Barbara "Bootie" Chewning, who represents the Vinton district, said she is leaning against running, but she has not made a decision.

Jerry Canada, the Hollins district member, is expected to run for his seat.

Charlsie Pafford, the Windsor Hills representative, has not disclosed her plans.

Under the staggered plan for electing board members, the seats of Chairman Frank Thomas and Maurice "Buck" Mitchell won't be on the ballot until November 1995.

Thomas, who indicated last year he might not run, now says it's too early for him to make a decision.

Mitchell, who represents the Cave Spring district, said he won't run because he opposes elected school boards, particularly in the county.

County voters approved the change to an elected School Board last fall by a 2-to-1 margin.