Truitt explains why she'll serve if elected

School board candidate Cathy Truitt is trying to position herself as being a hero in the minds of opponents of the diversity policy.

As noted in today's article, Truitt said her announcement over the weekend that she'll served if elected was meant to forestall the possibility of the current school board filling the seat if she got the most votes today.

"I'm ensuring they can't appoint a supporter of forced busing," Truitt said.

Truitt said the fact that she's not campaigning is helping John Tedesco's chances of winning the runoff election.

"It is highly probable that he's going to take the election so he can legitimately take the seat," Truitt said.

Tedesco isn't taking any chances. He said his campaign is continuing to run as if Truitt was an active candidate.

"I'm not taking anything for granted," Tedesco said.

Whether Truitt's announcement that she will serve if elected dampens turnout by supporters of the diversity policy is uncertain. The NAACP held a rally Sunday urging people to vote in the runoff election today.

Although Truitt has argued that she's against forced busing, supporters of the diversity policy may consider her a more palatable choice than Tedesco. That's why she was endorsed in the runoff by groups such as the liberal Independent weekly.