Seko Varner
Seko Varner ran for election for an at-large seat of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Varner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Varner earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Hampton University, a master's degree in special education from Regent University, and an educational leadership endorsement from George Washington University. His professional experience includes owning a disc jockey entertainment firm and working as a teacher, school counselor, and college and career counselor. Varner is affiliated with The Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, At-large (2 seats)
Incumbent Dorothy Holtz and Laura Hughes defeated Robert Melatti, Seko Varner, and Stephen Johnston in the general election for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, At-large on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dorothy Holtz (Nonpartisan) | 30.0 | 61,672 |
| ✔ | Laura Hughes (Nonpartisan) | 23.3 | 47,846 | |
 | Robert Melatti (Nonpartisan) | 22.3 | 45,805 | |
 | Seko Varner (Nonpartisan)  | 13.9 | 28,617 | |
 | Stephen Johnston (Nonpartisan) | 10.0 | 20,531 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 1,040 | ||
| Total votes: 205,511 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Seko Varner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Varner's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
My top priorities are to ensure that our programs expand to benefit a greater amount of students, to improve school safety emotionally and physically, and to develop stronger community connections which will bring a greater amount of resources to our schools, students, and staff.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am most passionate about education.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to qualities of people, not necessarily the people themselves. I look up to the qualities of determination, creativity, tenacity, insight, resourcefulness, concern, foresight, and awareness. People who exude these qualities are people that I tend to favor.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
While the film is not related to politics directly, I often recommend the documentary entitled Generation One: The Search for Black Wealth. I think that it is important for people to realize a better control over their resources.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
I look for competence in elected officials.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I believe that my tendency to be creative, concerned and the ability to consider numerous aspects of a situation will be the keys to my success as an office holder.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
I believe that the core responsibilities for a school board member are to review, renew, or create policy, to engage in planning, to problem solve and to support and address the concerns of the students, staff, and community.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I wish to leave a legacy of uplift. I wish for the world to be better because of my efforts. I aim to be the type of Bridge-Builder that Will Allen Dromgoole wrote of in his famous poem.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The historical event that has impacted my life the most were the attacks on America on September 11, 2001. I was 32 years old, and my wife was pregnant with our second child. I was conducting a home visit to engage with a family whose child had become truant. I walked into the house to initiate discussions with the family to help return the child into regular school attendance, and the mother who opened the door said to me "Come in. Sit down. They're coming for us." I was so bewildered as I watched the television. I decided that I needed to become more involved in the protection and governance of our country.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My very first job was shoveling snow off driveways in Columbus, Ohio. I decided that I'd earn some money and I visited my neighbors and contracted a few of them to shovel their yards. I've been self employed in some manner ever since that day.
What happened on your most awkward date?
On my most awkward date, a woman I was hoping to develop a serious relationship with was approached by an older military man who flaunted his wealth. When she reciprocated his advances, I decided that our relationship had run its course. Interestingly enough the live band began playing the song "Everybody plays the fool" by the Spinners while he began to 'wine and dine' her. I couldn't help but laugh as I left the club.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
The winter holiday period, which has traditionally blended Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years for my family, is a time that I value for spiritual and cultural reasons. However, I don't have a favorite holiday.
What is your favorite book? Why?
I don't have a favorite book. I love reading and I enjoy reading informational books.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
My mind doesn't operate in this manner. When I was young I favored Dracula, but I've never wanted to be anyone else.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
Questions that ask about my favorite items, events or concepts, normally do not apply to me. My mind simply doesn't operate in that manner. I've honestly never had a favorite color, flavor, food, etc.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
I'm a DJ and a musician. I perform, listen, and create music. I listen to so many types of music and so many songs that I can't pinpoint a particular song that has become stuck in my head. I continuously hear music in my head. Sometimes I am creating music; sometimes I'm evaluating music, sometimes I'm segueing between songs in my head.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I've always struggled with reading. I need to read passages three times before understanding the passage.
What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
The primary roles of a school board member are to review, renew, or create policy, to engage in planning, and to problem solve and to support and address the concerns of the students, staff, and community.
Who are your constituents?
My constituents are the students, families, and staff of the school system, and the community at-large.
How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
I will be able to support the diverse needs of our community very easily. I value engaging, listening, and partnering. By engaging with the community, by listening, and by partnering with my constituents, I'll be able to begin the process of meeting their needs by connecting the various community members with others in the community who can help to meet their needs.
How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
My platform is Safer, Smarter, Stronger. I'm very interested in networking with the business leaders in our community. Once elected I'll begin meeting with the various big business leaders to explore ways to develop mutually beneficial initiatives to provide greater resources to our school staff, students, and schools.
What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?
I've created and produced events in the community that have fostered greater parental involvement for the last five years. Once elected I'll continue with these efforts and work to increase their scope. I am a former elementary school teacher. I've found that the easiest way to encourage parental involvement is to have events that involve their children. Parental involvement can also be encouraged by meeting the needs of the parents, and by ensuring that the parents leave our involvement better than before our involvement. I.E. Our school system is uniquely situated to ensure that the parents of our students have opportunities for personal and career advancement. While providing parents with advancement opportunities isn't the traditional responsibility of a school system, engaging community partners to provide our parents with greater opportunity will lead to improved parental involvement and as a byproduct, improved student achievement.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I decided to run for office to work towards ensuring that a greater number of Virginia Beach students graduate with certifications that will make them valuable once they graduate. I want our schools to be physically and emotionally safer. I want every graduate to be workforce ready and workforce experienced. I believe that deeper community partnerships will benefit our schools, our students, and our staff.[2] |
” |
| —Seko Varner[1] | ||
See also
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools elections (2018)
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia
External links
Footnotes
