Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The fight continues over who has the right to name a temporary replacement for a Prince William County School Board member and Navy Reservist who was called to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Office of the Virginia Attorney General said the school board has the responsibility to appoint someone to hold Gil Trenum’s seat, but not everyone agrees with that.

Del. Richard Anderson told Mornings on the Mall the ruling is informal, and this is a partisan move to get more Democrats on the board. “I do know that he [school board chairman Ryan Sawyers] had requested at one time a Democrat to step in and take Republican Gil Trenum’s place on that school board,” Anderson said.

Gainesville Times reports Trenum emailed the names of his top replacement picks to school board clerk Deborah Urban June 25. Some people argue one of those people should be chosen.

Prince William County Spokesman Phil Kavits told WMAL, “Clearly there have been some differences of opinion that have emerged here, but I do believe that all of the school board members, though they may have different opinions on the subject, are looking to move forward in a way that both follows the law and serves the needs of our students.”

The school board scheduled a special public hearing on the appointment on Sept. 7 and a vote Sept. 21.

“I am not engaged in this, but I have had several citizens, who I have spoken to who have indicated they are seriously considering litigation to block this. Whether that goes forward or not, I don’t know,” Anderson said.

Kavits hadn’t heard anything about potential litigation and said he wouldn’t comment on legal possibilities or hypothetical questions, but he believes the school board will move forward based on the opinion from the AG’s office and the direction they will get from the school’s attorney.

Kavits didn’t know if anyone had applied for the position but said he did believe there were people who were interested in it.

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