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Local News - June 2002 |
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Candidates file for school board seats By ANDIE LEATHERMAN, LTN Staff Writer June 5, 2002 - A past Lincoln County School Board member and a political newcomer were the first to file for this year’s board election. Robin Brown of Long Shoals and Lynn Anderson of Denver filed Monday. Robin Brown, 46, is hoping to return to the board in the Lincolnton-outside-city-limits seat. She served from 1996 to 2000 when she lost a re-election bid. Brown is critical of the current board’s travel and education spending, including a portion she supported while on the board. Brown criticized the board for planning to spend $33,000 on travel expenses in the upcoming fiscal year, the same amount budgeted this year. It was Brown, however, who, during an Oct. 4, 2000 school board meeting, made a motion that board members be reimbursed $200 for travel expenses each month. No mileage documentation is required for reimbursement and the money is paid in addition to the standard $200 monthly compensation. That portion of the travel expense budget equals roughly $16,800 annually. Current board chairwoman Jean Dellinger voted against the motion. No other current board members were then serving. Brown was also critical of the board spending $23,000 on training and conferences. While on the board, she participated in out-of-town training but says she will not do so again if re-elected. “I didn’t learn anything. I will not go again if elected,” Brown said. Dellinger defended the board’s attendance at conferences and workshops. “We need to stay informed if we are to make the best decisions for our children,” she said. Brown criticized school administrators, saying they wait until problems occur to communicate with employees. She also had strong words for current board members. “Some of the board members have lost sight of why they’re elected. The children should be first priority,” she said. Brown declined to elaborate on the charge. Brown has one child attending a Lincoln County school and one grandchild who will be a student soon. Anderson, who filed for the Catawba Springs seat, makes her first political bid this year. She taught math at East Lincoln Middle School for eight years. She has also owned a finance and computer company for the past 16 years. She is scaling back that business. Anderson, 59, said Monday that she hopes to use her teaching and business experience on the board. “I feel like this is a time in my life I have something to offer if they choose to elect me,” she said. “I would like to devote my time to volunteer work and hopefully the Lincoln County school system.” Anderson, a 29-year Lincoln County resident, is married to county commissioner Tom Anderson. The couple have two children and three grandchildren. Anderson said that her husband’s position on the commission would not create a conflict of interest for either of them. The two have experience working together, she said. His engineering company is a client of her finance company. “We have a respect for each other’s abilities. We can look at each other as professionals,” she said. Filing opened at noon on Monday. The election will be Nov. 5. Three seats are open – Howards Creek Township, Catawba Springs Township and Lincolnton-outside-city-limits.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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