Small Town News

School board president must give up seat

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Two members of the Macon County Board of Education (MCBOE), including the board's president, will have to vacate their offices at the end of this year without the opportunity to run for reelection.

Because the MCBOE has staggered six-year terms and has moved from all at-large positions to voting by districts, board president Alfonso Robinson and member Alfred Randolph can't run in this year's election, even though their terms are up.

Theodore Samuel was elected to a full six-year term in 2008. It was the first election of a board member by districts that corresponded to districts for the Macon County Commission. A retired principal in the Macon County School District, Samuel was elected to the Place 2 seat, serving the same area as District 2 Macon County Commissioner Albert Daniels.

Board members Robinson, Randolph and Katy Campbell all reside in District 2. Elnora Love resides in District 1. Under the new district concept, board members represent the county's four districts with a fifth member elected at-large.

Places 3 and 4 on the board are up for election in 2010. Those areas correspond to the District 3 seat held by Drew Thompson and the District 4 seat occupied by Mike Berry. Thompson's district includes the Shorter area while Berry's district includes Notasugla. Those elected to Places 3 and 4 will serve until 2016.

To be contested in 2012 are Place 1 (District 1 for the county commission) and the at-large place. Going out of office in 2012 will be Campbell and Love. Any of the current board members in District 2 could first run for election again for the at-large seat in 2012. The next election for Place 2 -- where all current board members live -- will be in 2014.

Randolph, who has been limited in recent months by a stroke, indicated previously that he did not intend to run for reelection.

Ironically, Robinson was appointed to fill the seat of Randolph when Randolph resigned from the board to apply for superintendent's position when Willie Thomas was hired in 2004. Robinson was elected to a full term in 2004. Randolph had served briefly as interim superintendent when Macon County schools were under state intervention for financial operations.

After not getting the appointment as superintendent, Randolph defeated incumbent board member Aaron Robinson for a six-year term in 2004.

Alfonso Robinson admitted he was surprised when he found out he could not run for reelection this year.

"I was going to ask Mr. Randolph if he was going to run and would have not run against him because he was my mentor," Robinson explained. "It was a few weeks ago that I was made aware of exactly what the situation is."

That information was provided by MCBOE attorney Deborah Biggers, who explained the options.

Robinson may be a candidate in 2012 when the at-large place will be contested.

"I truly don't feel I am finished with many things I would like to see done," Robinson said. "It takes time to accomplish things that you thought you could get changed quickly. It just doesn't work ' that way."

Qualifying for local races began March 1 and will continue through Friday, April 2 at 5 p.m. Candidates must file qualifying papers with the Macon County Probate Office.



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© 2010 The Tuskegee News Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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