Election stakes are clear

With Election Day just over a month away, the stakes and issues in local races are very much in focus. Three races will test how much change citizens are willing to embrace.

Fredericksburg School Board

In Fredericksburg, the School Board race has moved from being an after-thought to one that suddenly is drawing more attention.

The candidates in Wards 1 and 3 generally agree on two key issues:

• Leadership

• Budget

Leadership, both in the central office and on the School Board, have become critical issues in this election.

The inability of the current administration to gain any traction on elevating SOL scores, and the troubles at the start of the school year with transportation, have frustrated residents and moved the two candidates in Ward 3 to speak openly of needing to take aim at school leadership.

On top of this, the stories that the Advance broke this summer about the School Board’s budget-busting travel and their use of the superintendent’s credit card while on business has elevated the question of Board behavior and their priorities.

Consequently, Ward 4 incumbent Malvina Kay who has run unopposed for almost two decades finds herself with a write-in opponent — Stan Jones.

Write-in campaigns are a significant uphill climb and thus hard to win. But in a school system that has faced a series of missteps in recent years, voter frustration can elevate attention enough to at least make the race interesting.

Also, Jones has pressed his write-in campaign and is gaining public notice. Kay has dodged questionnaires and forums.

If Jones is able to beat the odds and defeat the incumbent, the city school system could be poised for a major shake-up next year.