John T. Persinger, chairman of the Mathews County School Board, announced that he is seeking reelection to his third four-year term. Persinger first served on the school board from 2002 to 2005, returning to the post in 2008.

The Cobbs Creek resident has been employed at Newport News Shipbuilding for more than 21 years, and works as an electrical engineer in the Nuclear Overhaul department. A Richmond native, he graduated from Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville and holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech.

If reelected, Persinger said he plans to continue to build and strengthen the school board’s relationship with county supervisors.

"The board of supervisors and the community at-large have the final say in the funding that the school division received—it is important they understand why we need the funds we request and to see that those funds are appropriately spent for the improvement of our students and the retention of ...