NBC29Augusta County Officials Seek Bell Replacement

Augusta County Officials Seek Bell Replacement

After a landslide victory in Tuesday's election, one delegate-elect goes from city hall to the state house, but Dickie Bell will leave an open seat on Staunton council, and perhaps in his high-school classroom.

As he prepares to fill an open seat in the 20th house district, city council prepares to fill the seat that Bell leaves behind. Once the freshman delegate resigns from council, the remaining members have 45 days to appoint his replacement.

That person will have a steep learning curve. "Whoever does take that position," said Mayor Lacy King, "is coming in at a very difficult time for Staunton, as it is for all localities with the state budget woes and our own budget woes."

Bell's duty to Virginia may conflict with his duty to Augusta County. The soon-to-be part-time legislator is already full-time special-ed teacher at Riverheads High School. The delegate-elect asked for 48 days of additional leave time, five of them paid. That's more than nine weeks of school each winter. The Augusta County superintendent said no, but Bell will appeal to the county school board.

"I'd love to continue teaching, and Ii really think it could be a win-win for everybody," said Bell. "Obviously I'm pleased to win the election. I think the schools would benefit by having an educator in Richmond." 

Bell will take his case to the school board November 5^th. One week later, Staunton city council will meet to begin making its plans for appointing a seventh member.

Whoever gets that job would then have to run in a special election next may, to fill the remaining two years of bell's council term.

Reported by Ken Slack
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