Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 3, 1995 TAG: 9505030078
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Blacksburg lawyer Joe Painter, who pulled out of the running for Montgomery County commonwealth's attorney in January, has announced he will seek the District G seat on the Montgomery County School Board. District G is in the northern end of Blacksburg, near the Woodbine Subdivision. "Since I decided not to run for commonwealth's attorney, people started asking me, 'What about looking at the School Board?'" Painter said Tuesday. "I've talked to lots of parents and teachers who have been extremely supportive."
But Painter is not alone.
Peggy Arrington, who holds the District G seat, also plans to run in the fall.
"That was one of the things they asked us when I applied for the school board position, is whether or not we planned to run for elections," she said.
Arrington, 43, is married and has one son at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School.
Arrington's priorities include perfecting the school systems myriad plans.
"I like the six-year plan and how we've tied it to the budget because it gives us a good clear direction to move in," she said. "I also think the facility study also is going to be important in the future."
The School Board still needs to "do our self-evaluations and improve our ability to make decisions and get things done," she added. "Also I think most people don't understand how the system works and I think it's kind of important to explain that."
Painter, a Republican, said he will not seek an endorsement from a political party. School Board elections are non-partisan, but political parties may endorse candidates.
"I like being part of a non-partisan race," Painter said. "Parents particularly feel like they're not being heard by the School Board. I want to be a voice for parents and teachers."
Painter is an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech, and said he has taught at the elementary, high school and university level. His father was a principal and his mother was a teacher, librarian and principal.
If elected, Painter plans to install an additional phone line in his house for parents, students and community members to call.
"My initial focus is just to listen to what these groups have to say," he said. "These are the groups that seem to think they're not being heard."
Painter has already started collecting the 125 signatures needed to get on the ballot, and expects to have them by the end of next week, before May 13 when he will be getting married. He will have a 4-year-old daughter and has a grown daughter from a previous marriage.
"It's somewhat of an advantage having children on both ends of the spectrum because it gives me both hindsight and foresight," Painter said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB