Local government officials hold the most power over the quality and value of public education, and only voting residents can determine who holds this power.
This November, White Hall and Samuel Miller residents will be voting on a number of candidates, including those for the School Board at large seat, House of Delegates, and Virginia State Senate. While November 7th, Election Day, is a month away, there are still many deadlines for new voters to meet. October 16th is the deadline for voter registration, and October 27th is the deadline for applying for a mail ballot. Additionally, on October 28th, voting registration offices open up for early voting.
18-year-old high school students, who have registered, are eligible to vote. According to Heidi Gilman Bennett, who volunteers with the Chair of Family Council, “High school students have a lot at stake in this school board election. The candidates all want to improve academic achievement and prepare kids for college and future work.” This is true in that these candidates will affect everything to do with students. Many candidates have differing opinions on issues such as transgender rights, book bannings, firearm safety, and critical race theory.
Western senior Jacob Walton, who is a leader of the Young Conservatives club, agrees that there are many issues facing high school students. “I think a big thing is just the uncertainty of our grading system, where you have different things [to worry about]. You’re jumping through so many hoops. And I think another big thing facing our students is just mental health. A lot of that comes from the uncertainty with ‘Oh, this is graded and you have five days to do this or you don’t have five days.’ And it’s very much where we’ve taken out the teacher student relationship from that and we kind of put this countywide policy that doesn’t seem to work as much,” Walton said.
Eli Hughes, who is a senior and a leader of the Young Democrats club, has their own concerns as well.
“I am very passionate about gun control. I think that especially for school students in America with the recent rise of school shootings in the country, it’s important that we enact gun legislation to protect students in schools. That has been a hot topic nationally with campaigns all over the country and locally with campaigns here in Albemarle County,” Eli said.
As these issues affect all students, not just voting ones, there are plenty of opportunities for younger students to get involved with local elections.
“Students who are not yet 18 can help get people registered to vote, which is a nonpartisan effort critical to US democracy. If you have a party affiliation, the Albemarle County Democrat and Republican groups can share lots of opportunities, including making phone calls, writing postcards, and going door-to-door,” said Bennett.
Walton also has experience with participating in local elections, which he has been doing for years.
“You can join the Young Conservatives club, you can join the Young Democrats, but really just getting involved with reading the news is a great thing, especially for our local races this year. You have the Crozet Gazette, which is a great source of information. They have so many good political op-eds and other things they are writing about these races. Also, contact the campaigns. I know all campaigns would love to have student support. That’s what I did when I was younger, and it’s just a great way to get involved,” he said.
Students attending Western would primarily fall in the White Hall or Samuel Miller districts. Ballots for residents of White Hall or Samuel Miller would be the same, except for one difference: White Hall voters are voting for new members of the Board of Supervisors and the School Board, as well as sections listed above.
Candidates running for Board of Supervisors are Ann Mallek and Brad Rykal. Mallek has been on the Board of Supervisors since 2019, and is running for re-election. Her plans for the White Hall district, if she were to be re-elected, include fixing infrastructure, primarily intersections and roundabouts in more urban areas, and protecting local streams and rivers. Rykal, who is an Army veteran and a father of young children, is striving to end mounting taxes for farmers and protect local businesses.
Joann McDermid and Rebecca Berlin are running for the school board. Berlin, who is the incumbent for the White Hall district, and was appointed to the seat last December after David Oberg retired, has a background in education, specifically with special needs students, and her goals for the school board include mental health help for students and improving the quality of education for all students. McDermid, a research scientist as well as a parent, wants to improve School Board policies and spending. One of her goals is to form a White Hall Advisory Council full of people who live, work, and have been educated in this area. They would offer advice and council on county issues.
The School Board At-Large seat is a county-wide race, one that has captured the conversations of many students. “Both the White Hall seat and the At-Large seat will represent the students attending WAHS, their families and the community. That race is hotly-contested, and making national and state news. Why? For one, both candidates are receiving unusually large donations to fund their campaigns,” Bennett said. Both candidates have raised over 100 thousand dollars each.
Meg Bryce, a mother of four and a part-time professor of psychology, is running against Allison Spillman, a mother of five who has worked with many different companies and nonprofits. Bryce, who pulled her children out of the public school system during the pandemic, wants to make many improvements. Some of her goals include improving grading policies and keeping leveled classes, reinstituting SROs (School Resource Officers), and managing the school board budget differently. Spillman, who adopted two of her children, wants to make ACPS a more inclusive school, specifically for foster students. Additionally, she aims to improve literacy systems, stem education, and gun safety inside schools.
Also on the ballot will be the Virginia House of Delegates candidates from District 55. Amy Laufer (D), who formed Virginia’s List and helps women running for school boards across Virginia, is running against Steve Harvey (R), an army veteran and father. Laufer supports efforts to increase special education and also is aiming to reduce carbon emissions and invest in green energy. Harvey is a supporter of nuclear energy, is working to stop election fraud, and protects and defends the 2nd Amendment.
State Senator Creigh Deeds (D) is running for re-election to the state Senate against Republican Philip Hamilton (R). One of Deeds’ goals is to expand Medicaid so all people have better access to healthcare. He is also fighting for abortion rights across Virginia, and is working towards increasing teacher pay and hiring more bus drivers. Hamilton, a paralegal and private business owner, wants to increase the pay for law enforcement officers, as well as support veterans and militia and put an end to critical race theory and gender fluidity in schools.
All these candidates will be on ballots soon. November 7 is Election Day, but early voting will open up on October 28. Go vote!
