CLIFTON FORGE — Clifton Forge native Donnie T.A.M. Kern is seeking election to Clifton Forge West District seat on the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors.
Kern is a graduate of Alleghany High School, DSLCC, Radford University, Georgetown University, and recently Liberty University having earned a Master’s Degree in Accounting and an Enrolled Agent credential from the United States Department of the Treasury. Donnie Kern, his wife, and two children attend Living Stone’s Ministries.
e Kern began serving the public through his work with the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America and as an intern for United States Congressman Rick Boucher; a pivotal moment for Kern who at twenty-two years of age decided to run for his first political office; the Virginia House of Delegates. Donnie Kern is the current member of the Alleghany County school board serving the Clifton Forge West District. Kern says he has been vigilant in ensuring the newly created joint-school board is elected as it is currently appointed.
“My appointment in 2018 to the school board was driven by the need for a joint school system. The Board of Supervisors appointed me to the school board and now we have a joint school system. Is the plan perfect? No, but it can be. The current plan removed Clifton Forge’s two school board representatives and handed them to Covington. Clifton Forge gave up its City Charter and for the past twenty years has bought and paid for these two seats and we pay two taxes. This is unacceptable. If elected the current plan for seven members will increase to nine which is allowed under state code,” he said
Kern says his tenure on the school board “has seen sweeping changes in the past three years.” He says that in early 2018, he began progressively advocating for disabled students due to reports made to him by community stakeholders. The school division recently appointed a new superintendent and Director of Special Education. Kern having, saying he studied public policy in Washington D.C., offered some “strategic insight.”
“Group dynamics is an obstacle to changing any unhealthy direction of a government entity. I have a particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. These skills enable me to get around those obstacles. I want to also see this school board elected, so parental rights can be restored, and so all employees can have a say in the outcome of our community. Our community cannot afford to wait, we waited fifty years to consolidate, we cannot afford to wait for fifty more to become elected,” he said.
Kern says he has other “visionary ideas” for the operations of the county which include adopting budgetary practices prescribed by the Government Finance Officers Association, and creating a more FOIA-friendly website. Kern also sees more funding for the Clifton Forge library and other art programs on the horizon.
Kern’s last political campaign was 10 years ago for the Alleghany County Treasurer’s office, a three-way race with Rickey May and Wanda Simpson. Kern finished second. He said he advocated for more efficient payment options as citizens were left with the only option of paying bills via cash and check.
“In hindsight, God places you where he wants you. He never tells you why. The path forward isn’t always revealed. However, at the end my friend Wanda Simpson honored me by putting the efficiencies I campaigned for in place. I firmly believe it wasn’t all in vain, and here I am again but the only difference is the stakes are so much higher,” Kern said.
Kern says members of the Board of Supervisors have disagreed with “his methods of advocacy for disabled students causing the supervisors to seek legal action in removing Kern from his position on the School Board.”
“I’ve been asked “why would I want to join them?” this is backward logic. I am seeking election to serve the will of others. I am not seeking election to join them. If I am elected, I will serve my community loyally, faithfully, and always put right above wrong no matter the consequences that I may face. In doing this, I hope my peers, the Supervisors will instead join me. I have an impeccable track record in getting things accomplished and that’s all the assurance the voters should require,” he said.
He added, “I have extended my hand in friendship to the Board of Supervisors for a peaceful resolution. So far, they have yet to accept. I have no plans in giving up my seat on the School Board until the United States Supreme Court tells me I have to. Judge Ed Stein’s choice of Patrice Jefferson to sub in my absence was a good one. It takes courage to want to step up in this situation and I am glad she chose to do so. She has my full support.”
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