VIRGINIA BEACH
The challenger for the School Board's Rose Hall district seat will benefit from some inside knowledge. Brent Mckenzie's campaign manager is Ed Fissinger, a board member.
Fissinger, who is not running for re-election, hopes to help Mckenzie unseat Michael W. Stewart, a board member since 2000.
"I think that's an interesting bedfellow," Stewart said. "It inspires me to rise to the occasion."
Fissinger started his term four years ago as a maverick but adjusted to working with the rest of the board. He criticized Stewart's meandering speaking style and questioned his effectiveness. He said Mckenzie would "bring a lot of energy and thought to the board."
"It's nothing personal against Mike," Fissinger said. "I just don't feel he's done a good job."
Several board members said Fissinger is free to support whomever he pleases.
"We're all independent political entities," Chairman Dan Edwards said.
The situation hadn't caused the board any problems, he said, but "it doesn't make for sweetness and light."
Stewart's wife and campaign manager, Pamela Greene, said Fissinger lacked "professional Southern courtesy" for letting her husband hear about his plans from others.
Board member Pat Edmonson said she's supporting Mckenzie, a friend, by canvassing for him. Board member Sandra Smith-Jones attended Mckenzie's campaign kickoff. Others said they would not make endorsements or had not decided yet.
"I think it's very dangerous to go out on a limb for somebody and then there're hard feelings on the board," said board member Em Davis. "So basically, I'm supporting the incumbents."
Stewart, who is kicking off his campaign Wednesday, said he has helped push the school division toward more uniform rules on discipline and other matters. A civilian regional electronics maintenance officer based at Norfolk Naval Station, Stewart, 56, is a member of the state advisory committee on juvenile justice. He ran unopposed in his two previous campaigns.
Unlike the 11 current board members, Mckenzie attended and graduated from Virginia Beach public schools in the Rose Hall district. He said the schools in Green Run, Plaza and Holland have been overlooked and "need a champion."
Mckenzie, 31, works for the office of the Virginia Beach commissioner of the revenue and is a former legislative assistant to Del. Bobby Mathieson, D-Virginia Beach.
"The connections I've made can only help," Mckenzie said. He said he doesn't think he'd need to leave his job if he became a board member. It's helped him learn how to work with the public to resolve problems. If elected, he said he'd hold regular town meetings and work across partisan divides.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
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Change is may NOT be good int his case!
First, I reiterate my concerns about Mr. Stewart lack of representation to his zoned areas. However, some of that responsibility must be placed on the community in which he serves for not being more vocal about the educational needs of the students who attend Plaza, Holland, and Green Run, and trust me, these students and schools have great needs.
I too respect and like Fissinger, but to assume that Mckenzie has “integrity” (which I question) by association, is not how I choose, to judge a person’s abilities to represent my childrens educational needs. I live in the zoned area in which he is seeks election, and I will be active in recruiting my community to elect a school representative that can show empathy and understanding for the needs of our children. So far........... Mckenzie has not shown he can do this!
Time for change in Virginia Beach
Mr. McKenzie is someone with a fresh perspective and an open mind, both of these are qualities that could only benefit our school system. It is time to make a change to our education systems and what better way to start than locally? Mr. McKenzie is honest, hardworking, and analytical. We need someone with his qualifications, outlook, and personal experience to change the way our school systems function. VOTE MCKENZIE if you want to see positive changes in Virginia Beach.
If Fissinger supports him...
Fissinger maintained a passion for perceived underdogs, from teachers to students in summer school. And if Fissinger is McKenzie's campaign manager, I can bet that McKenzie has the same ideas to put teachers and students first.
Why do we have people representing us who are out of touch with what the people want. Mayor Oberndorf and the other clowns need to be replaced with people that understand Virginia Beach and put the citizens first. It shocks me to hear that none of the current members of the school board have attended our local public schools. It would make sense that someone who personally had first hand experience in the Virginia Beach Public School system would be better for our school board than one who had none. I don't know about everyone else but I am ready for new ideas starting with someone who has seen how our schools really operate.
Campaign for Liberty.
Brent Mckenzie for Rose Hall
Change Is Great! Lets see what a pair of fresh eyes can bring to our district. Obviously Mr. Stewart hasn’t met the cry of our youth, so it’s time we had someone that is actually from the areas he wishes to help. Don’t be afraid of change, embrace it and help it grow. Brent always has been and will continue to be a diligent worker and has proven himself, through campaign work for several others. Now it’s time he received a helping hand from us, to elect our New Board Member for the Rose Hall District. Vote Brent McKenzie
Response to Reno
Reno, please tell us how “Mr. Mckenzie has stepped up to the plate?”
Just because he decided to run, does not mean he can be effective. Have you met Mr. Mckenzie? How has he proven that he is “better” versed on important issues that are of concern for the citizens of Virginia Beach then Mrs. Stewart?
Candidate 4 VB School board
I too agree that Mr. Stewart has not provided fair representation to the needs of parents and students of the Green Run, Plaza and Holland zoning area.Perhaps having someone run against him, will be a wake up call!
However, I have experienced Mr. Mckenzie to be arrogant and pretentious and totally out of touch, with the educational needs of students and parents.I remember having a conversation with him about the board's decision to use Black children as genuine pigs for the Open campus idea used at Newtown Elem., and Betty F W. His response showed he lacked empathy and understanding for the personal struggles of this population.
At least with Mr. Stewart, we know what we are getting!
RENO
Re-elect no one. It is time for Mr. Stewart to go. Mr. Mckenzie has stepped up to the plate. Mr. Stewart has not been an effective member of the School Board. It does not seem he is well informed or well read on the issues or the meeting agendas. The questions he asks seem immaterial most of the time. The citizens of Virginia Beach should welcome the change. In 2000, the first time he ran, he filed his election papers at the very last minute. Would he have run if he knew he would have had competition? Remember Re-elect no one and that includes Mr. Stewart.