THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996 TAG: 9604160002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Hampton Roads is awash in candidate forums. Nowhere is this truer than in Virginia Beach where 45 - at last count - folks were running for School Board.
Most of these forums are useful, but one scheduled for tonight and hosted by a group calling itself the Virginia Beach City Republican Caucus, is a curious event.
The official Republican Party of Virginia Beach voted not to endorse candidates in the School Board elections.
That vote has not stopped some conservative Republicans from forming their own renegade group - the caucus - with the deceptive moniker that makes it sound offical. They intend to make endorsements.
Look for the official city Republican Party to distance itself from the actions of this fringe organization which, to be honest, should have called itself something like the Conservative Caucus.
Partisan politics have no place in a School Board race. Republicans can't run a school system any better than the Democrats can. Virginia Beach needs smart, dedicated, hard-working, honest citizens pledged to improving the local public schools. The city does not need School Board members who have passed a political litmus test.
We urge voters to view with suspicion those who would toss the divisive issue of party politics into a school board race. by CNB