The Goochland Education Parents Association is a political action group….of sorts.

They don’t endorse candidates and don’t make policy statements about issues. They do sponsor forums and debates.

“We are like a conduit for conveying information,” said GEPA chairman Marc Maier in a phone interview Dec. 21.

“We have 159 names on our email list, and we send them information about the school board, administration and education news in general. We want to keep them informed about what is going on in Goochland County schools.”

The recent School Board elections resulted in all five seats being filled by new members. Three of the five new members defeated incumbents and one individual won a three-way race in a district where the incumbent did not run. In the other district where an incumbent didn’t run, newcomer John D. Wright was unopposed for the seat.

While GEPA didn’t endorse any candidates, it did hold a candidates’ forum where they could speak and be questioned on issues by the general public. GEPA also sent out a questionnaire to all of the candidates.

“We had people submit questions for the candidates and then we sent every candidate a questionnaire,” Maier said. “As they were returned, we posted the questions and answers on our website for people to read and see where the candidates stood on certain issues.

“Again, our goal is to inform people so they can make their own decision on an issue and then act accordingly,” he continued. “Someone might read something about an issue the School Board is taking up and go to a board meeting and make their feelings known. They might read about a program at a school and get involved or find a way to support it. We aren’t going to make recommendations to anyone, but we are going to try to inform them.”

Maier said that when GEPA sends out an email that he believes it probably is then forwarded to another 75 to a 100 people.

“My guess is that overall, about 250 people eventually get the information we disperse with any single email,” he said.

GEPA has no official membership and has no dues or fees to get on its email list.

“We do have a four member board that runs GEPA,” Maier said. “We have to have meetings when we are planning forums or other events to support a school or project. We try to have four new people serve on the board each year to keep fresh eyes and ideas involved.”

The GEPA website is: http://goochlandparents.blogspot.com/, where you will find news and other Goochland education-related links.