So far, no newcomers challenge the incumbents.
By: Jeff Milgram
Wanted: A few good men and women to run for the Princeton Regional Board of Education.
With three days remaining to file, only one candidate, an incumbent, has submitted nominating petitions for the two open seats from Princeton Borough. In the township, so far only the incumbents are seeking the two open seats.
The school board election will be held April 15 and the deadline for candidates to file their petitions is Monday.
"People typically don’t turn in their petitions until the last day," school board President Charlotte Bialek said Thursday.
Joshua Leinsdorf, elected three years ago, has filed petitions for re-election to another three-year borough seat. Myra Williams, who was elected with Mr. Leinsdorf in 2000, has announced that she will not seek re-election, leaving one open seat from the borough.
In Princeton Township, the board’s vice president, Anne Burns, said she plans to file her petitions today for a three-year seat. JoAnn Cunningham, appointed to fill a mid-year vacancy on the board, has already filed for a one-year unexpired term.
Ms. Bialek hopes that at least one more person in the borough will come forward and run. "I hope more than one, and make it an interesting campaign," Ms. Bialek said.
If no hat is thrown into the ring, the board will appoint someone. Write-ins are accepted, said Mr. Leinsdorf, a psephologist, someone who analyzes election results.
The board is made up of five township representatives, four borough representatives and one representative from Cranbury, who votes only on Princeton High School issues.
Last year, opposition to the three incumbents whose seats were up for election coalesced after a heated meeting of the board’s Facilities Committee. Three challengers ran campaigns that emphasized their support for the district’s athletic program, which they felt was being shortchanged during the planning for the $81.3 million school rebuilding program.
Two of the three challengers Michael Mostoller in the borough and Walter Bliss in the township won.
The Princeton board has a high turnover rate, Ms. Bialek said. She thinks that is a good thing.
There are some theories to explain the lack of interest in running in Princeton Borough.
"There do seem to be more uncontested elections in the borough," Ms. Burns said. But she’s not sure why. She did speculate that the apparent lack of interest in Princeton Borough may be a positive sign. "I guess this year there seems to be less controversy," she said.
Ms. Bialek said potential candidates might be more concerned about their jobs and the world situation than about running. But, she said, the board is a very good introduction to community issues.
Mr. Leinsdorf believes the issue is demographic and economic. The school population from Princeton Borough is shrinking, as is the pool of people who are interested in the schools, he said.
He believes only about 25 percent of the district’s 3,300 students live in Princeton Borough and, although he represents the borough on the board, he believes the formula for dividing up the board seats should be changed.
Under state law, representation on regional school boards must be apportioned by total population. Princeton Township gets one more seat on the board because it has more people, 16,027 to Princeton Borough’s population of 14,203, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
Mr. Leinsdorf believes that if the state law were based on student enrollment, the borough would lose one, or even two, board seats.
The district does not know how many students live in the borough. As a regional district, it lumps everyone together.
Mr. Leinsdorf also blames high real estate prices for reducing the pool of potential candidates. "The real estate prices in the borough have made it impossible for young families to move into the borough," he said.
Those young families who have children often live in Princeton University housing and move away after a few years, Mr. Leinsdorf said.
Ms. Bialek isn’t buying it. She believes there are enough people without children in the district to field candidates. "We have a lot of terrific seniors in town," she said.
She agrees with Ms. Burns: There is simply no single controversy for opposition to jell around.
Mr. Leinsdorf would agree. "People are generally satisfied with what the board has been doing," he said.
Ms. Bialek also believes that many of the good, potential candidates already have served on the board. "The selection of people who are likely to do it have already done it," she said.
Ms. Bialek said serving on the board is a great experience. "The school district is a microcosm, not only of the community, but the world," she said. "Working together as a team is really exciting. Because of turnover you never get complacent."
Ms. Burns acknowledged that serving on the board is a lot of work and "you do take some heat." But, she said. "It’s one of the best volunteer experiences I’ve had in my life."
Mr. Leinsdorf hasn’t given up all hope. "Someone may still file," he said.
In a related matter, the League of Women Voters has scheduled a school board candidates night at 7:30 p.m. March 31 at the Jewish Center of Princeton.

