Business panel backs 5 school candidates

The political arm of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce endorsed five Charleston County School Board candidates Tuesday who they said would focus on the best interest of the district and prepare students for the workforce.

The board of the Business Advocating Change Political Action Committee voted to support: commercial real estate broker Chris Fraser and former Principal Ann Oplinger in West Ashley; business owner Chris Collins and college instructor Mattese Lecque in North Charleston; and incumbent and attorney Toya Hampton Green in downtown.

Those same five candidates also are "recommended" by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, which means they received the highest marks compatible with realtors' interests. The association takes input from Realtors and its board of directors to pick candidates who best represent the interests of the real estate community. County residents can vote for candidates in each geographic area; only candidates must live in certain areas.

The other candidates running for school board are attorney John Graham Altman and incumbent and management analyst David Engelman in West Ashley; former teacher Elizabeth Kandrac in North Charleston; and library manager Marvin Stewart downtown.

Altman, Engelman and Stewart were considered "qualified" by the Realtors' association, which means "has all the qualities that make them an acceptable candidate." The association took no position on Kandrac, which means she was interviewed but was not given a "recommended" or "qualified" ranking.

Ryan Castle, government affairs director for the association, said each candidate was screened through interviews, and the association's board approved its recommendations. The association looked for candidates who would improve public education and help better educate the work force, which will attract companies here, he said. The association's political action committee will contribute money to those who are recommended, he said.

The chamber's PAC was established eight years ago to support candidates who contribute to the region's economic vitality and prosperity. The committee said it only endorsed candidates for this school board race because of the importance of education and an educated work force. Two-thirds of the committee's endorsed candidates have been elected since 2000.

Each school board candidate completed questionnaires and participate in 30-minute interviews. Brent Jonas, committee chairman, said the committee asked candidates about their vision for the board, leadership skills, managerial experience and their position on issues such as school funding, governance and school choice.

The committee's board looked for candidates who were interested in setting policy and not getting involved in the day-to-day operations and understood the role of a board member in relation to the superintendent, Jonas said. The committee was interested in candidates who would set a positive tone, not necessarily being cheerleaders, but stay away from backbiting, he said.

"We're excited about these five candidates and hope they get elected," he said. "We've got a good track record. We want to improve that number by going five for five."

He said he didn't want to elaborate on why the committee didn't endorse the other candidates.