Reader sees politicking in school board endorsement

Dear Editor,

In his [Aug. 15] letter to the editor, fellow Republican Larry Miller describes in a duplicitous and self-serving manner the vote by the Chesterfield Republican Committee to slam the door in Patty Carpenter's face [in the Midlothian school board race].

I was at the same meeting [and] what I saw as a clever political maneuver by Eric Finkbeiner to tie the endorsement of himself to that of the four Republicans running for school board in the other magisterial districts and to insist that this package not be divided up. I moved that each magisterial district vote on its own candidate. Miller describes this as a desire by the party leadership not to support Dianne Pettitt, Omarh Rajah, David Wyman and Marshall Trammell. That's nonsense. Miller knows perfectly well that there was never any question about those four being endorsed if any school board candidate was endorsed. If the decision to endorse a Midlothian school board candidate had been made only by Midlothian Republicans, Patty Carpenter would have gotten the endorsement. That's why the Finkbeiner camp insisted that the endorsements be bundled.

Note that Miller lives in the Dale District. The Finkbeiner motion was made by Mike Thomas, who lives in the Clover Hill District. I live in the Midlothian District.

Miller's candidate for Midlothian school board, Finkbeiner, is an influential political insider and a professional lobbyist employed by the politically powerful McGuire Woods lobbying and law firm. He helped set policy in the George Allen administration, working on such policy matters as environmental issues and treatment of state employees. He has been endorsed by a number of Republican officeholders, every one of which he has either raised money for, directed money to, or has donated heavily to. As one wag put it, "While Patty Carpenter was out working for the Chesterfield County schools getting a bond issue through, Finkbeiner was making down payments on his endorsements."

Finkbeiner established his concern for the Chesterfield County schools by getting himself onto the County Council of PTAs and then skipping all, or nearly all, of the meetings of the council during his term. But he notched that one on his resume.

Why does Finkbeiner want to be on the Chesterfield School Board? The answer is simple. If elected, his four-year term will end in 2011. In 2011, the General Assembly seats will be redistricted, and Chesterfield will get another seat. Finkbeiner can ask his friends in the General Assembly to place that new district where he can easily capture it. In the run-up to 2011, the school board position will give him the opportunity to develop name identification and build a political base.

Carpenter is not a professional politician. Carpenter is first a mother. She also runs her own small business. She goes to all manner of meetings and activities related to the schools and their operation.

Miller supports Finkbeiner because he is viewed as "a true and loyal Republican." I support Carpenter because she is good for the Chesterfield County schools, Chesterfield County and its citizens.

Tom Van Auken

Bon Air