A Democratic activist still needs thousands of signatures to advance a proposed referendum on whether Roanoke should elect its school board.
But Luke Priddy said his petition drive has some support, including from a city council member, and is preparing to launch what Priddy hopes will be a more eye-catching phase of the effort.
âI have 500 yard signs that just arrived recently that are in my garage,â he said Thursday.
If he submits the signatures of 6,500 registered voters who live in the city by July 14, the referendum would appear on the Nov. 2 ballot. Heâs received about 500 so far, he said Thursday.
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Thirteen Roanokers have applied for three open seats on the Roanoke School Board, including educators, attorneys, a doctor and an assistant city manager. This is the largest number of applicants the city has received since 2017.
The board is guaranteed to gain at least two new members on July 1. Laura Rottenborn, chief of the Western District of Virginiaâs civil division, did not reapply for a third term. Dick Willis, an industrial digitization leader for Trane Technologies, is ineligible for reappointment because he is serving his third and final term.
The third seat is held by attorney Mark Cathey, who has served on the board since 2015 and has reapplied for a third term. Cathey was previously the boardâs vice chair and chair.