Local Republicans continued to celebrate their victories in the Valley Wednesday, but one delegate-to-be must deal with a situation at his regular job.

After a night of celebration, it was back to reality for 20th District Del.-elect Dickie Bell.

Bell says, "I'd like to continue teaching. I like what I do, I like where I do it."

Along with his announcement for candidacy months ago, Bell requested a total of 49 days off from his part-time job as a special education teacher at Riverheads High School.

The request was denied by Augusta County Schools Superintendent Dr. Gary McQuain.

Bell says, "I really do think if we sat down and looked at the possibilities that we can work something out for the brief time that I would have to be gone."

However, McQuain says Bell would miss almost nine weeks of school during sessions of the General Assembly.

Mcquain says the transition for the special education students is a cause for concern.

"I didn't mean to make it an either/or choice," adds Bell. "I'm sorry it appears to have come down to that. I didn't want it to be like that."

Bell has appealed to the county school board, hoping it can find a way to work around the time he will miss.

He says, "They energize me and they add balance to my life, which gets a little crazy with the politics."

If his request is denied again, Bell says his other options are to retire or to find work at another school in the area.

He says, "I haven't thought that much about it because that is not where I want to go. However, I may have to."

Bell says the county's manual lists politics as one of the allowed reasons for taking a leave of absence. He hopes the school board will keep this in mind when it makes its decision Thursday night.