PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — The Woodbridge District is gearing up for a heated School Board election this fall.
Steve Keen was appointed as an interim member of the Prince William County School Board this spring following the resignation of Denita Ramirez, who left her post for a new job in Richmond the day after the November 2012 General Election. Keen is considering a run to be the permanent Board member.
“I believe that because I served on the School Board prior to this, that I had a shorter learning curve than others,” Keen said.
While it’s likely he’ll run, he has not made an official announcement.
“I’m considering it. I’m open to the idea, but there’s a few details I want to work out first,” Keen said.
Keen said he won’t seek party backing or partisan support in his campaign.
“If I decide to run, I’m not going to ask anyone for any endorsements,” he said.
Another candidate that will be running for the seat is Todd McCormick, founder and director of a local non-profit named The House, which provides services to more than 1,000 individuals in Prince William County. McCormick, originally from the corporate HR world, had his first experience with the challenges that families and faculty face in county schools when running his programs at The House.
“What’s happening here in our county is that many administrators, teachers, parents children – even people that are partners in education – are frustrated when they hear candidates giving the same vague promises. What’s pushing me is realizing that [the students] need to be represented on the bench,” McCormick said.
McCormick is actively seeking the Democratic nomination in the upcoming caucus. When speaking about his request for Democratic support, he cited his long family background with the Democratic Party, including his grandmother who was a host to Truman in the 1948 Democratic National Convention and his aunt, who worked in the Executive Office under President Carter.
There are two other names in contention for the seat; Inman Johnson and Chris Royse, both of whom did not return requests for comment for comment. Keen stated that Royse, who unsuccessfully ran against Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank Principi in 2010, was the likely candidate for the Republican Party.
“I believe that Chris Royse will be running for the seat. There are officially no Democrats or Republicans – it’s a non partisan seat – however Mr. Royse, I am certain would be running with the Republican Party,” said Keen.
Johnson publicly announced at a recent county Democrat meeting that he would be seeking Democratic nomination for the seat, against McCormick.
Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, November 5, to decide Woodbridge’s permanent School Board representative.
