Photo by Aila Boyd
By Aila Boyd
ailaaboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Three candidates who are running for the three seats on the Botetourt County School Board that will be on the ballot in this November have joined forces to create a joint ticket that they call “Botetourt United.” The announcement about joint ticket was made last Friday at the Blue Ridge Library during a press conference.
The joint ticket includes Daniel Angell, who is running for the Fincastle District, Matthew East, who is running for the Blue Ridge District, and Aaron Lyles, who is running for the Valley District.
Following the announcement that they had joined forces, all three of the candidates spoke about the decision to do so.
“A joint ticket for School Board isn’t something that normally happens, especially not in Botetourt County,” East said. “I joined this ticket because I believe that without a united front, we will struggle to achieve our full potential.”
He added that he’s tired of seeing the same solutions applied to the same problems and expecting different results.
“Unless we can get a majority of like-minded fiscal conservatives on the board, we’re just running around in circles,” East said.
Angell said, “I’m really excited to work with Matt and Aaron. We’re certainly separate candidates and have our own opinions on matters, but we do agree that the School Board is facing some very significant challenges. All three of us are committed to working together on solutions.”
He went on to say that it has been frustrating to see the “lack of action that the current School Board has taken on a lot of issues.”
“It’s unique to see candidates from different districts working together, but I think it really speaks to the significance of the issues that the School Board is facing right now,” Angell said.
Lyles said, “I’m pleased to be standing here today with Daniel Angell and Matthew East as we embark on a united front.”
He said that he’s running for the School Board because he feels that the citizens of the Valley District deserve a representative who will be active and not just show up to the monthly School Board meetings.
Angell is running against Beth Leffel and Dana McCaleb.
Lyles is running against Tim Davidick.
East is challenging incumbent Scott Swortzel, who currently serves as the vice chair of the School Board.
