The grass-roots coalition that backed Pittsburgh school board member Patrick Dowd when he ran four years ago has endorsed another Highland Park resident now that Mr. Dowd has decided to run for City Council.

The District 2 School Board Coalition yesterday voted to endorse Heather Arnet, 32, executive director of the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania. The group received national publicity when it helped teenagers conduct a successful "girlcott" against sexist T-shirts at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Sixty-two residents voted. Voters had to commit to work toward the selected candidate's election.

Kathy Fine, coalition coordinator, said a "clear majority" favored Ms. Arnet over two other candidates, Stephanie Tecza, 44, of Polish Hill, an employment specialist at Achieva, and Bill Woodward, 57, who has worked in the city schools as a Communities in Schools coordinator. Ms. Arnet and Mr. Woodward are next-door neighbors.

Most of the voters live in Highland Park although a total of about 20 live in Lawrenceville, Morningside, Stanton Heights, East Liberty, Polish Hill, Friendship and Spring Hill.

Each candidate submitted written information, made speeches and answered questions before the vote.

Mr. Dowd, 38, who is in his first term on the board, has been a supporter of school Superintendent Mark Roosevelt. If elected, it appears Ms. Arnet will be as well.

In her spoken remarks, Ms. Arnet, the parent of a preschooler, said she is "very impressed" by the speed of the changes Mr. Roosevelt has made to try to improve the system. She said some changes have been painful, but, "it takes courage and sensitivity to implement change."

She considers Mr. Roosevelt's plan to be "thoughtful" and the benchmarks already set are a good way to measure progress.

In her written remarks, she stated, "To date, Roosevelt has proven himself to be smart, well informed, responsible, professional, creative, passionate and fair. He has demonstrated strong leadership, the ability to listen and to serve the constituents in the district, and the ability to learn from and incorporate lessons in best practice and innovation in education nationally into Pittsburgh's School District."

While she supports Mr. Roosevelt and his plan, she said she would not be along just for the ride. "I'm not a yes woman," she said.

Mr. Woodward, whose wife teaches at Carrick High School and is the parent of two former Peabody students and guardian of one Carrick student, also supports Mr. Roosevelt's initiatives.

In his written remarks, he stated the superintendent has "performed remarkably well in rapidly addressing the critical needs" of the school system.

He listed two "small complaints": the lack of reductions in central office staff and the lack of "comprehensive partnering" with community and nonprofit groups.

Ms. Tecza, who has a special needs child who graduated from the district and a gifted one who attends Schenley High School, said she is "iffy" and "still on the fence" about Mr. Roosevelt.

She said he treated the needs of special education students in regional programs as a second thought in his school reassignment plan. She also does not think he acts as if parent involvement is a priority.

Ms. Arnet has a bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University where she majored in literary and cultural studies. While an undergraduate, she worked at Family Communications Inc., where city school board president Bill Isler now is chief executive officer.

She is a member of the board of directors of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Women's Campaign Fund and the advisory board of The Forbes Funds. This is her first run for elective office.

To be considered for endorsement, the candidates had to agree to support the coalition's selection yesterday.

The candidates also had to agree to advocate for quality public education and the school district; not to seek employment or contracts for relatives or friends; not to micromanage the district; to work cooperatively with the superintendent and staff; and to act within conduct guidelines outlined by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.