Ogburn endorses Vithoulkas for Henrico School Board’s Three Chopt seat
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Henrico School Board member Micky Ogburn, who is vacating the Three Chopt District seat on the board at the end of the year, endorsed candidate Kristen Vithoulkas for the school board’s Three Chopt seat on Sept. 12.
Vithoulkas is among three candidates running for the Three Chopt position, along with Eleina Espigh and Madison Irving. Ogburn announced earlier this year that she is not seeking re-election.
Ogburn is the first currently sitting board member to endorse a candidate to succeed her position on the board. School board vice chair Alicia Atkins, who is seeking re-election for the board’s Varina seat, endorsed Irving for the school board’s Three Chopt seat on Aug. 29.
As of June 30, Espigh had raised $3,150 and Irving had raised $6,230, according to the Virginia Access Project. Vithoulkas joined the race shortly before this reporting period, so VPAP lists Vithoulkas as raising $0.
All five seats of the Henrico School Board are up for re-election this year, but only three of the five current board members are seeking re-election on Nov. 7: Atkins, board chair Kristi Kinsella of the Brookland District, and Tuckahoe District board member Marcie Shea. Fairfield District board member Roscoe Cooper, III is running for the Henrico Board of Supervisors to represent Fairfield District.
Ogburn said she has the “utmost confidence” in Vithoulkas and praised her work volunteering with Henrico County Public Schools and holding offices in Henrico parent-teacher associations.
“Kristen has been a longtime active volunteer, problem solver, and advocate for our children and schools,” Ogburn said. “Due to Kristen’s continuous involvement, she knows our schools and community.”
Ogburn was initially elected to the school board in 2014 in a special election and was re-elected in 2015 and 2019. She resigned her role as board chair in 2021 after she received criticism for sharing an offensive post on her Facebook page, which she quickly deleted and apologized for, saying she had not read the entire post.
Vithoulkas is a former auditor and accountant who left her job 25 years ago to be a stay-at-home mom and volunteer at Henrico schools. She attended Henrico Schools for 13 years and volunteered at HCPS for 20 years, serving as a PTA president and treasurer. She also is married to the brother of county manager John Vithoulkas.
“Kristen has given her time and energy to working with and for our kids,” Ogburn said. “She is uniquely qualified to continue her service to the citizens of Henrico County in a new way.”
Vithoulkas joined the race on June 20. She is running against Espigh, a director of enterprise data at Capital One, and Irving, a former HCPS teacher. Espigh joined the race on June 8, while Irving was the first candidate to announce his campaign in January.
Atkins, who endorsed Irving, highlighted his experience as a teacher at Varina High School and Hermitage High School in Henrico and James River High School in Chesterfield.
“As a high school teacher, husband, and father, Madison Irving embodies the values and qualities we need,” Atkins said.
Irving has an 18-month-old daughter who will go into Henrico schools, and Espigh’s children all attended Henrico schools.
Elections for all five school board seats will take place as part of the November general election on Nov. 7. The current school board members’ terms will end Dec. 31.
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Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.
