Friday, June 6, 2014
State and Local Stories
Pricillia E. Burnett, who lost a narrow bid for re-election May 6 for the Newport News School Board, has filed a petition in Newport News Circuit Court contesting the results of the election. The petition, filed Wednesday, names the Newport News Registrar's Office and the Newport News Electoral Board as defendants. Burnett initially said she would seek a recount in her race, which she lost to challenger Douglas Brown, but because she lost her election by more than one percent, she is ineligible for one by state law. Burnett lost by just 55 votes in the North district race, 1,132 to 1,077. "This is the United States. We have a democracy," Burnett said. "People should know who they voted for. The outcome would be different if they did another election."
Daily Press
A University of Virginia School of Law School administrator accidentally sent an email Wednesday with a spreadsheet attached to 155 law students that contained their GPAs, class ranks and personal biographical information, officials confirmed Thursday. On Wednesday, Ruth Payne, UVa’s director of judicial clerkships, sent an email via a school mass mailing list, but forgot to attach details about hiring information for positions in Maryland. Realizing the mistake, Payne sent a follow-up email but inadvertently attached a file titled “2015 Applicants Workbook,” which included the personal information, legal website Above the Law reported. Six minutes later, the website said, all of UVa Law’s clerkship applicants received a third email from Payne asking them to delete the previous email. This week’s error is the most recent in a string of accidental disclosures of personal information at UVa in the last several years.
Daily Progress
The University of Virginia Board of Visitors is deeply divided ideologically, according to a consultant who spoke with the board Thursday afternoon. Richard P. Chait, an expert on university governance, presented the results of an anonymous survey of board members and high-ranking administrators at a meeting of the Special Committee on Governance and Engagement. “You are rather united in the view that you’re rather divided as a board,” he quipped. Fortunately, he said, the two sides have common ground: All respondents agreed they need to communicate more often, and that the administration should give members updates on ongoing issues and projects at least once a month. “I think there are reasons to be optimistic about better shared governance,” Chait said. “Both management and the board are self-critical. No one doubts anyone else’s intentions.” Finally, there are questions about the roles of individual board members — whether there should be a limit on data requests, for example, or members’ interactions with the media. Data requests can be burdensome to administrators, Chait said, and can be used as a bludgeon by board members with a grudge against the administration. Some members also complained about public comments they see as undermining the board — particularly when a dissenter goes to the press to express dissatisfaction with a decision. Bobbie G. Kilberg asked whether other boards have codes of conduct that deal with talking to the press; Chait said it’s common in many private institutions. Dragas said any policy muzzling dissenting members would be “anti-Jeffersonian.”
Daily Progress
A Campbell County judge today delayed until Wednesday a preliminary hearing ruling whether or not court attendees can wear shirts bearing the face of the deceased during a murder triallater this month.
News & Advance
Tempers flared again among some Shenandoah County leaders Thursday over a proposal to videotape the Board of Supervisors meetings. At the end of the board's regular work session, District 4 Supervisor Cindy Bailey asked that Vice Chairman Conrad Helsley disclose the identity of donors he says have offered to cover some of the costs for equipment needed to videotape the meetings. Helsley continued to hold his ground on the issue, saying video would let viewers see how board members react to situations during the meetings. At the end of the short but loud debate, Helsley said he still would not disclose the identity of the donor. While an outspoken advocate of government transparency, Bailey says she sees the addition of video to the audio already provided to the public as an unnecessary expense at this time. Bailey said Helsley should disclose the identity of his donor or donors in the interest of transparency. “I’d like to know what you promised those donors for giving you that money," Bailey said. "You're calling me a crook?" Helsley snapped.
Northern Virginia Daily
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