Three new Stafford School Board members will take office in January, with just one incumbent keeping his seat in Tuesday’s election.
Falmouth representative Robert Belman recaptured his spot on the board, beating Bruce Saller with 56 percent of the vote in the southern Stafford district. He was the only incumbent in eight Stafford County races for the School Board and Board of Supervisors to win re-election.
School Board Chairman Tom Villacres, who had served for eight years, lost to first-time candidate Nanette Kidby in the Garrisonville District 53 percent to 46 percent.
In the Hartwood District, Doreen Phillips, a real-estate agent, captured 52 percent of the vote to defeat 39-year-old Kim Miller, Hartwood Elementary’s PTA president and a substitute teacher. Incumbent Karen Zink did not seek re-election.
John LeDoux, 61, was elected to represent the Aquia District. He ran unopposed for the seat vacated by Robert Hunt.
At his victory party at at TJ’s Celebrations on U.S. 1, Belman said he looks forward to working with the new board.
“I know Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Kidby really campaigned on being responsive to the people, and that’s what I did and plan to do for another four years,” he said.
Belman, a Realtor, said he campaigned without resorting to negative radio or television ads, and people responded.
“There’s really no place for it in local politics,” he said. “People are sick of this negative campaigning.”
Villacres, 44, was recently appointed to a statewide committee on education. He said he was proud of his eight years of service and the race he ran this year.
“I think I ran on the issues and ran a positive campaign,” he said.
School Board newcomers Phillips and Kidby said they are eager to dive into their duties.
“I’m just very excited to get in there and roll up my sleeves and get to work,” Phillips said.
“I’ve dreamed of this opportunity since I was a little girl, when I saw my mom in education,” said Kidby, who is director of a Huntington Learning Center in North Stafford.
School Board candidates in Virginia are not allowed to run with party affiliation, but politics filtered into the race this year. Belman and Phillips were candid about their personal status as Republicans and had endorsements from local, state and national GOP officials. Miller and Saller said they think that had an impact on their races.
“It was very hard trying to run as an independent, not seeking any [party] endorsements,” Saller said.
“It’s a shame the School Board race has to mix politics into it, because I don’t think politics belongs in this race at all,” Miller said.
Villacres, who also ran without political endorsements, did not comment on that issue last night, but made similar remarks during the campaign.
“Political party and senior politician endorsements are not good for school board races,” he said. “There’s not room for political parties at the school board level.”
The four elected last night join the board’s other three members: Edward Sullivan from the George Washington District; Dana Reinboldt from the Griffis–Widewater District; Patricia Healy from the Rockhill district. Those three seats are up for election in 2007.
To reach KELLY HANNON:
540/374-5436
khannon@freelancestar.com