BY WALTER ELLIOTT
ORANGE – There are 46 candidates whose petitions for Nov. 4 boards of education election ballot placement are being examined by the Essex County Clerk-Elections Division as of press time.
These are the candidates who have filed their signed petitions on or before the 4 p.m. July 28 deadline. A spokesperson told “Local Talk” that the candidates who filed for 24 school board seats in eight public districts are having some of their petition signatures being cured, or corrected.
The following individuals’ campaigns are therefore unofficial as of press time. They will be placed on the otherwise general election ballot to show that they are competing for nonpartisan positions.
A preliminary overview shows more candidates than available seats. Some are sharing a common slogan, platform or ticket. There are several incumbents, one of which long standing, who have declined re-election.
In ORANGE, two incumbents are among the eight candidates and four slates who are vying for the three available Orange Board of Education seats.
Incumbent Tyrone Jon Tarver and newcomers Danielle Gibbs and Carolyn McMillan are running together as “Citizens for Education.”
Colleague Shawneque Johnson has banded together with Jared Adams and Andrew Coats oner the “ONE for Orange” banner.
Antoine Tyrece Chapman, Jr. and Veronica Scott are conducting solo campaigns on similar slogans. Chapman is heralding “Equity Through Education;” Scott “Equity in Education.”
Incumbent Sueanne Gravesande has declined re-election.
WEST ORANGE has two incumbents and two challengers each competing for two board seats.
Incumbents Dia N. Bryant and Robert Ivker are running together on their “For the Kids” ticket. Bryant was appointed to fill the resigned Jennifer Tunicliffe’s seat in January.
Challenging are Susan Palmucci and Noha Sadnay. While Palmmucci has no slogan, Sadnay is under the “Equity Excellence Education ” banner.
In SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, Six challengers running on two slates are looking to replace the three outgoing incumbents on the South Orange-Maplewood School District. All six happen to be Maplewood residents.
Current Board President Nubia DuVall Wilson, of South Orange; Second Vice President Regina Eckert, of Maplewood, and panelist William R “Bill” Gifford III, of Maplewood, are not seeking re-election. They were all elected on their “Students Come First” team in 2022.
Daniel Caplan, Ashley Ludovicy-Donahue and Ashwat Rishi are on their “Progress. Partnership. Promise” platform.
Meredith Higgins, Malini Nayar and Paul Stephan have their “Listen. Learn. Lead.” Legend.
In BLOOMFIELD, one incumbent and six challengers under three different tickets are squaring off for three seats.
Bloomfield Board of Education Vice President Benjamin Morse, who has no slogan, is the sole incumbent.
Jelani Jeffrey, Kerri Joyce and Deanna Wilson are sharing their “Stronger Schools Now” platform.
Thomas Heaney is “For The Children.” Andrew Lomonte said he is “For the Students.” Quan R. Miller has no slogan.
Former Board President Jill Fischman and Board Member Phylis Gerber have declined re-election.
In MONTCLAIR, five candidates – two incumbents and three challengers – are seeking three board seats.
MBOE Vice President Yvonne W. Bouknight and member Brian Fleischer are looking to be re-elected. Bouknight trumpets “Access Achieve Advance” Fleischer has no slogan.
Challenging them are Milt Horowitz, former board member Sean L. Long and Kerri McMahon. Horowitz heralds “Paradigm Shift.” Long promotes “Champion Student Achievement.” McMahon stresses “Stronger Schools Now.”
Current Board President Mfreke “Monk” Inyang is not running for re-election.
In GLEN RIDGE, all three school board incumbents and a newcomer are running either with or without Civic Conference Committee endorsement.
Long standing incumbent Elisabeth Ginzburg, second term pursuer Tricia Akinwande and first-time runner Luke Franklin are running with CCC endorsement. Incumbent Heather Yaros-Ramos is running without the said group’s endorsement.
The CCC, created in 1913, is made up of delegates from eight civic organizations who interview and recommend candidates on the BOE and mayor-council levels. There are individuals who have won elections without seeking or receiving CCC endorsement.
In BELLEVILLE, eight candidates from across five slates are contending for three Belleville Board of Education Trustee seats.
The two incumbents – Michael Derro and Gabielle Bennett-Meany – are looking for re-election on separate tickets. BBOET Member Derro wants “A New Beginning.” Board President Bennett-Meany and Nicole Coviello-Daddis are “Building Futures Together.”
Board member Luis Muniz will not run for re-election.
Kenya Arroyabe, ana Mansilla and Yadira Munoz are running under the “Better Belleville BOE” banner. “BBB” is a variant of Mayor and campaign manager Michael Melham’s perennial “A Better Belleville” municipal and school board entries. (Belleville also holds nonpartisan mayor-council elections.)
Cristina Amanda Garro is running solo as “Moms For Belleville.” Former trustee Michael Sheldon favors “Fix Our BOE.”
NUTLEY is where who is not running makes as much news as who are. There are still four candidates vying for three board seats.
Nutley Board of Education Member and former board president and vice president Charles W. Kuncinski is ending his 30-year tenure.
Board members Thomas D’Elia and Theresa “Terri” Quirk are the remaining incumbents running their own campaigns. D’elia has no slogan. Quirk is running on her own “Putting Students First” platform.
Challenging are Steffan R. Delpiano and Mariangel Lazo. Delpiano displays “Reconnect Our Community.” Delpiano has no slogan.
Prospective Nov. 4 voters who want to register or transfer their registration to a new address have until Oct. 14 – 21 days before Election Day – to do so. Oct. 29 – seven days before Election Day – is the last day to apply for a Vote By Mail Ballot by mail. Details are found at essexclerk.com.
