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Our choices for Cabarrus school board

Independent Tribune editorial board

Published: October 30, 2008

Many school districts across the country begged candidates to run this year.

The long hours and low pay make the job difficult at best.

In Cabarrus County, we're lucky to have 17 candidates running for five seats on the Board of Education.

For voters, getting to know the candidates was like running a marathon. Candidate forums had to be broken into pieces. We needed a full page in Thursday's paper for candidate profiles.

Your school board choice will be personal, and we encourage you to choose someone who knows your school and your neighborhood. Be sure to pick a blend of newcomers and veterans.

We have decided to endorse the five candidates who have impressed us with their vision and service.

We believe improving the literacy rate in the county and decreasing the dropout rate will be among their highest priorities.

The first three are incumbents: Holly Blackwelder, Cindy Fertenbaugh and Wayne Williams.

Blackwelder, a licensed general contractor, was the leading vote-getter four years ago. She rose to positions of leadership quickly, serving in chair and vice-chair in her first term.

Fertenbaugh has 10 years of experience. She was recently re-appointed by Gov. Mike Easley to the State Board of Education's Business and Education Techonology Alliance.

Williams, a retired educator, has served four terms on the seven-member board.

Fertenbaugh and Williams should consider letting someone else have a chance in the next election, but we're glad they're running in 2008.

The other two choices are tougher because most of the candidates have the best of intentions in running.

We like Jan van Ravesteyn and Anne Laukaitis above other faces in the crowd.

Dr. van Ravesteyn has children attending Cabarrus County schools. He has vested interest in their performance and would provide parental representation on the board. The physician has impressed us with his intelligence and resume.

Laukaitis has served the last 11 years as executive director for the Cabarrus County Partnership for Children. She administers budgets for Smart Start and More at Four programs. She also has taught at the preschool and community college levels.

We also encourage you to look closely at Lew Davidson, who was nearly elected in 2006, Tim Furr and Philip Stephens.

Davidson touts his experience at budgeting while a senior manager at IBM. He has talked about the importance of all students reading to grade level by second grade, a concept we fully endorse.

Furr, owner of TAFCO Polymers in Midland, has been a strong advocate for youth sports in the community. He has helped with Central Cabarrus High's football team and serves as athletic director for the Post 51 American Legion baseball team.

Stephens has a track record of strong leadership. He retired from the military as a colonel and worked as director of facilities management services for CMC-NorthEast.