County Republicans endorse candidates
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Despite recommendations by the Chesterfield Republican Committee (CRC) board and a committee that studied the matter, a narrow majority of the committee's membership voted last week to endorse candidates for all School Board races. The CRC endorsed Republicans Eric Finkbeiner (Midlothian District), Omarh Rajah (Matoaca), Dianne Pettitt (Clover Hill), Marshall Trammell (Bermuda) and David Wyman (Dale).

Cynthia Haake, who chaired a committee that studied the issue, urged fellow Republicans not to endorse candidates for any School Board race. "In Midlothian District we have two strong Republicans running," she said, "and [an endorsement] could split the party in that district and affect Don Sowder." Sowder is running for reelection as Midlothian supervisor against Independent Dan Gecker.

Patty Carpenter was endorsed six months ago by Jim Schroeder, the current Midlothian School Board member. Carpenter co-chaired Homeowners for Quality Schools, a citizen group that supported improving county schools, before serving as chair of Citizens for Chesterfield Students, an organization established to gain support from Chesterfield residents for the $231.2 million school bond issue that passed with 87 percent approval in 2004.

Schroeder wasn't happy with the vote's outcome. "Now I'll be working 200 percent to elect Patty," he said.

Prior to the vote, former Planning Commissioner Will Shewmake pleaded with committee members to reject the endorsement motion. "Voting for the endorsements plays into the hands of Dan Gecker," he argued. "It will splinter the party [in the Midlothian District] and hurt Don Sowder, the toughest race in the county. If we lose our majority on the county board, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves."

Those supporting Republican endorsements liked the idea that party volunteers working the polls on election day would be able to promote Republican candidates for School Board. Traditionally, School Board candidates are viewed as nonpartisan, and no party affiliation appears on the ballot.

Republicans have endorsed School Board candidates in the past, and many of the supporters favored Finkbeiner over Carpenter.

"I have campaigned with Don in his reelection effort and will continue to support him," pledged Finkbeiner. A longtime Republican who served as a policy advisor to former Gov. George Allen, Finkbeiner has been endorsed by state and local leaders, including Allen, Congressman Eric Cantor, Sen. John Watkins, Del. Sam Nixon and Commonwealth's Attorney William Davenport.

Rajah is hoping to unseat Independent Tom Doland, who beat incumbent Republican Lloyd Lenhart in 2003. Doland is currently the chairman of the School Board.

Pettitt has served 14 years on the School Board. She is running against Joel Bradner and Patricia Lancaster. Incumbents Trammell and Wyman are unopposed.