THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120627
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Two more candidates for at-large seats on the School Board have dropped out of the crowded race.
Kathleen M. Damon, an at-large candidate bidding for a two-year term, withdrew from the field Thursday, and Gary Reese announced that he has ended his bid for a four-year term as an at-large representative.
In all, five of the original 50 candidates seeking seven School Board seats have cut short their campaigns.
Damon, 40, is the second candidate to withdraw from the field for that two-year seat, leaving 14 people vying for the post.
A mother of four children who also works full time as a restaurant manager, Damon said she decided Thursday to step down.
``I have more than I can handle,'' she said.
In addition to her family and professional responsibilities, Damon said she teaches at her church and is a PTA board member at her children's schools. She has one child at Great Neck Middle School and two at Hermitage Elementary. The youngest child begins elementary school next year.
``I will certainly always help at my kids' schools,'' she said, adding that ``I'd hate to leave them in a lurch'' by taking on more tasks than her time would allow.
Reese, 47, is a schoolteacher in the Chesapeake Public Schools system and a retired Navy officer.
He wrote a letter last week to the city's voter registrar announcing his intention to withdraw from the election. He received a confirmation letter Wednesday, he said.
``This was not a good time for me,'' Reese said about reflecting on his announced candidacy. The time involved in campaigning and serving on the School Board ``would be detrimental to my family,'' he added.
Reese, who has one child at Salem Middle School and one at Salem High School, said that he might try again later after his children are older.
``Hopefully, in about four years, I can re-evaluate that decision,'' he said Thursday night.
Reese is the second candidate to drop from the race for a four-year, at-large seat on the School Board. His departure leaves 22 candidates bidding for two seats. It's the only one of six School Board races in which two candidates will win seats.
Although 3 1/2 weeks remain before the May 7 election, it's unlikely that Damon's and Reese's names can be removed from the actual ballot voters will see at the polls. The voter registrar's office begins preparing the ballots after the candidate filing deadline, which was March 5. by CNB