The Hampton and Newport News School Boards each have begun the process of replacing members who won seats to the House of Delegates Tuesday.
In each city, the respective School Boards will select an interim member to serve until the May local elections when voters will pick full-time replacements.
Hampton
Martha Mugler, who has served on the Hampton School Board since July 2008, won the seat representing the 91st District, left vacant by the retirement of Gordon Helsel. Mugler will join the House of Delegates in January, and her interim replacement on the School Board will serve until a special election in May.
School Board Chair Ann Cherry announced at Wednesday’s meeting that an online application for the interim position will be on the Hampton City Schools website (www.hampton.k12.va.us) this week. Applicants must be a qualified voter living in Hampton.
“We want to make sure everyone is engaged in this process who needs to be engaged, and that’s the entire citizenry,” Cherry said. “I look forward to the process.”
Applications for the interim spot are due by Nov. 25, and on Dec. 4 the School Board will announce the names of the qualified candidates who are under consideration. On Dec. 18, the candidates will be invited to a public hearing to discuss their qualifications and interest in the position.
On Jan. 15, at a meeting behind closed doors, the board will make its selection and then announce it at the public meeting that evening. The new member will be officially seated at the Feb. 5 meeting.
Newport News
Shelly Simonds has served on the Newport News School Board since 2012, representing the city’s Central District. Tuesday, she was elected to represent the state’s 94th District. It was her third attempt to unseat Del. David Yancey — two years ago, their race came to a tie, and Yancey was declared the winner in a random drawing.
The School Board has not had a regular meeting since Election Day, but school division spokeswoman Michelle Price said the board has started figuring out how to find its new member. She said the state gives the board 45 days to fill the seat once it’s vacated.
The School Board had to fill a vacancy in 2008 when member Pat Woodbury was elected to the City Council, Price said. She said those interested in filling that seat submitted applications, and the board interviewed candidates and held a public hearing.
The Newport News School Board’s next meeting is Nov. 19. It has not yet provided information about how or by when to apply for the seat. Price said that would be likely be in place within a week or two.
Want to serve on the School Board?
Along with the elections for these vacated seats, there are scheduled elections for seats on the Hampton and Newport News School Boards in May. Anyone wishing to run for a full-time seat can call Virginia Department of Elections at 804-864-8901 or go online to the “candidate info” section at vote.virginia.gov.
Mike Holtzclaw, 757-928-6479, mholtzclaw@dailypress.com
Josh Reyes, 757-247-4692, joreyes@dailypress.com
