OUR VIEW: Where is the interest in the School Board spot?

In May, School Board member Jimmy Lee announced his resignation, which left a vacancy on the board’s West Fairfax seat. He had two years left to serve.

Bob Houck was appointed in July to fill the seat until November, when a special election will be held for the remainder of the term.

Houck interviewed against five others for the seat — Jennifer Barbee, Jerry Beckett, John Rick Boswell, John Cerio and Monica Chernin.

All of them expressed interest in running for the seat if they did not get the appointment.

But actions speak louder than words, it would seem.

When the Aug. 21 deadline passed for inclusion on the November ballot, only Cerio and Houck had filed. Barbee expressed interest, but did not file any petitions, Culpeper County Registrar Michele White said.

We’re not browbeating those who didn’t follow through; we expect they probably have good reasons that really are not anybody’s business but their own.

Besides, no one is compelled to run whether they express interest or not.

Houck and Cerio are good candidates, but we think all six had good attributes to bring to the table.

West Fairfax voters, and really the county school system, might have benefited from six fine candidates contributing their ideas to the race.

Elsewhere, Richard Goff will run against incumbent Elizabeth Hutchins for the School Board seat in the Cedar Mountain District. George Dasher filed for re-election in Stevensburg District and Leanne
Jenkins filed to seek another term in Jefferson District.