BY WALTER ELLIOTT
ORANGE – Prospective Nov. 4 General Election voters in eight “Local Talk” Towns, should they read the back of their sample or Vote By Mail ballots will be choosing up to eight boards of public education candidates who want to sit on their town’s or towns’ two or three school board seats.
Almost all of the seven public school districts (South Orange-Maplewood is a rare two-town district) have contested elections. Most districts have a combination of incumbents and challengers – running either independently or on shared nonpartisan tickets – to choose from.
“Nonpartisan” is the operative word here. Although elected officials may endorse and/or support one or more candidates, no one is to run as a “Democratic,” or “Republican” or “Garden Party” candidate.
The three candidates (or two in West Orange’s case) who a majority of registered participating voters select will be representing parents, students and municipal stakeholders on the school board. They will be the ones who vote on the upcoming school year budget and advise and consent on the school superintendent and administrators’ recommendations or actions.
The following are on the ballot and were actively campaigning as of Oct. 9.; it is too late for the Essex County Clerk’s Election Division to remove a withdrawn candidate’s name.
“Local Talk” does not know of any write-in campaigns, which may change Nov. 4’s results, as of press time.
In ORANGE (Vote for Three), Incumbent Tyrone Jon Tarver and newcomers Carolyn McMillian and Dannielle Gibbs are running as “Citizens for Education.” Solo campaigner Veronica Scott flies her “Equity in Education” banner.
Antione Tyrece Chapman, Jr. is running under her “Equity Through Education” banner. Incumbent Shawneque Johnson and newcomers Jared Adams and Andrew Coates are running as “ONE for Orange.” in the ballot and as “Orange Children’s Team 2025” on their campaign material.
WEST ORANGE voters are to select two from a pair of incumbents and a pair of challengers each. Board Member Dia N. Bryant and Board Vice President Robert Ikver say their platform is “For the Kids.” Susan Palmucci is running a solo campaign. Noha Sadany is on her own “Equity, Excellence, Education” ticket.
SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD voters will be selecting three new people to place on the two-town board. The incumbents whose terms expire on Jan. 1 have declined re-election.
All six candidates are running on two distinct slates – all call Maplewood home. David Caplan, Ashley Donahue and Ashwat Rishi are on their “Progress. Partnership. Promise” platform. Meredith Higgins, Malini Nayar and Paul Stephan are on their “Listen Learn Lead” ledger.
BLOOMFIELD voters have one incumbent and six challengers to fill three board seats for 2026-28. Andrew Lomonte, Thomas Heany and Quan R. Miller say they are “For the Students.” Jelani Jeffrey, Kerri Joyce and Deanna Wilson want “Stronger Schools Now.” Vice President Benjamin Morse is on his “One for All.”
On MONTCLAIR’s ballot are two incumbents and three challengers who are all running their own campaigns for three board seats.
Vice President Yvonne Bouknight advocates “Access, Achieve, Advance.” Brian Fleischer is also a current board member. Milt Horowitz wants a “Paradigm Shift.” Susan Long, is into “Champion Student Achievement.” Kerri McMahon supports “Stronger Schools Now.”
There are four GLEN RIDGE candidates seeking three seats broken down along Civic Conference Committee endorsement lines.
The CCC, made up of various civic and political organizations, endorse borough-level candidates. Independent school board, council and mayoral candidates have run and won offices without that group’s endorsement. Incumbents Tricia Akinwande and Elisabeth Ginsburg and rookie Luke Franklin have the CCC seal of approval. Incumbent Heather Yaros-Ramos is running independently.
BELLEVILLE voters have eight candidates with a mix of incumbents and slates to pick three from. Kania Arroyabe, Ana Mansilla and Yadira Munoz are under the “Better Belleville BOE” banner. The slate is managed by Mayor and “A Better Belleville” leader Michael Melham, who has fielded similar board and Township Council candidates.
Board President Gabrielle V. Bennett-Meany and Nicole Coviello-Daddis say they are “Building Futures Together.” Michael L. Derro wants “A New Beginning.” Christina Garro wants to represent “Moms for Belleville.” Former board member Michael Sheldon wants to “Fix Our BOE.”
The three NUTLEY candidates below, barring a write-in campaign, are assured of filing the three open school board seats: Tom D’Elia is running on his own. Steffan R. DelPiano seeks to “Reconnect Our Community.” Former NBOE member Theresa “Terri” Quirk is intent on “Putting Students First.”
Oct. 28 is the last day for prospective VBMB users to apply for one with Clerk Durkin’s office to get one by main. Those ballots may be mailed back or deposited in designated drop boxes on or before the 8 p.m. Nov. 4 polls closing time.
Consult essexclerk.com for early voting and Nov. 4 polling station locations, replacement or provisional ballot requests, ballot troubleshooting and other details.
