Schroeder supports Gecker over fellow Republican
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Schroeder

School Board member Jim Schroeder is breaking ranks again by endorsing Independent Dan Gecker over fellow Republican Don Sowder in the Midlothian supervisor race. Schroeder, the school board representative in Midlothian District for the past 14 years, is a member of the Chesterfield Republican Committee.

"Gecker has the intellectual capital, experience and leadership that the current board is missing," Schroeder said. "For my many Republican supporters and friends, I will continue to vote Republican on a national level. For our local community I want the most qualified people in office. I cannot live within a box that does not allow me the freedom to select the person with the best credentials and experience to lead our community."

Last November, Sowder narrowly defeated Gecker in a special election to fill the last year of a four-year term left vacant by former Supervisor Ed Barber. Gecker ran as a Democrat, and Schroeder endorsed Sowder at that time, but now says "I had concerns then."

Earlier this year, the county board struck $750,000 from the school budget to fund a new preschool program for at-risk four year olds. Schroeder and other school board members were upset, seeing the budget reduction as an intrusion into their responsibilities. The school board ultimately reallocated spending from elsewhere in its budget to fund the program.

"The supervisors' attitude toward Pre-K spending indicates they don't have a vision for education," insisted Schroeder. "Research shows connecting kids to education early can greatly enhance their success in school, and these kids too often become dropouts, which can lead to incarceration."

Initially, the supervisors voted unanimously against funding the preschool program, but in a second vote, the margin was just 3-2 against funding. Both times, Sowder opposed the program, which now serves about 100 students.

Schroeder also objected to the property tax rate reduction by the supervisors for this year's budget. "We weren't included in the rate reduction decision," he said. Last April, supervisors reduced the property tax rate from $1.04 per $100 of assessed value to 97 cents, costing the school system about $14 million. Sowder proposed the compromise rate of 97 cents.

The school budget increased $46 million this year.

Schroeder has shown his independence from his party before. He has already endorsed Independent Tom Doland, the incumbent in the Matoaca school board race, over Republican Omarh Rajah.

Schroeder is not running for reelection in the Midlothian District. In July, the Chesterfield Republican Committee voted to endorse Republican Eric Finkbeiner for the Midlothian school board seat. Schroeder has publicly disagreed with the committee's endorsement, choosing to instead back Patty Carpenter, another Republican committee member.

In explaining his endorsement of Gecker, Schroeder said, "We need strong leadership regardless of party, and I think Dan provides that."

Sowder declined to comment on this story.

"I find it very disappointing that Mr. Schroeder has chosen to support someone running against our Republican supervisor, Don Sowder," responded Republican Committee Chairman Sherman Litton. "Republicans have a core set of principles and beliefs that separate us from our Democratic opponents, but sometimes individuals get all caught up in their own agenda and don't see the big picture."

"As a longtime member of the Republican committee, Mr. Schroeder should have had the courtesy to share this decision with me ahead of time," continued Litton. "I don't know what he found so upsetting that he felt he had to abandon the party. Jim sought and received our support as long as he wanted to remain in office, and now that he has chosen not to seek reelection, he has thrown us aside."