By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
Editors note: Due to the publishing deadline of the South Brunswick Post, results from the election will be posted online at www.centraljersey.com.
Voters went to the polls Wednesday to decide whether to support the proposed $134 million school budget and to decide who will fill the Board of Education’s three open seats.
A handful of voters leaving the Community Center polling place on New Road Wednesday at about 10 a.m. said they supported the proposed budget.
As they left the polling place, Kendall Park residents Sally Aloff and Octavian Kocy said they each supported the budget.
There has been money cut all over the place, Ms. Aloff said.
”How much more can they cut?” she said.
Mr. Kocy said he supported the budget because he feels that if too many teachers are lost, it hurts the students.
Kendall Park resident Mike Derer said, “I support the budget because I have kids in school.”
Lynn Miniere, who works for the Board of Education, said she supports the budget because she has seen what happens if it is voted down.
She said the Board of Education members could have done better with the budget but members do try to “do what they need to do.”
Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in all of the township’s voting districts. Although the tax levy will be the same as it has been for the past two years, there will be a 12.2 cent per $100 of assessed value tax increase because the overall value of the municipality has decreased by 4.34 percent because of successful tax appeals, according to township officials.
The proposed budget will have a tax increase of $228 for the average property owner with a home assessed at $190,000 if passed, according to officials.
The candidates who ran for the three open seats on the Board of Education were: incumbents Dr. Matthew Speesler and Arthur Robinson and challengers Ed Birch, Pat Del Piano, Ray Kuehner and Deven Patel.
Dr. Speesler, 58, is a pediatrician has served on the board for five terms totaling 15 years including serving as board president for the last two years.
Mr. Robinson, 54, is a chemical safety engineer and a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves, and was been on the board for three years.
Mr. Birch, 59, is a senior records management analyst for the NYC Administration for Children’s Services who has run for the board unsuccessfully several times in the past.
Mr. Del Piano is a retired firefighter and a part-time Fire Safety Manager for the Hudson County Community College, and has run for the board in the past.
Mr. Kuehner, 54, is a transportation supervisor for the North Brunswick Board of Education, was on the Citizen’s Budget Committee, and was running for the board for the first time.
Mr. Patel, 40, is a Civil Engineer with the Department of transportation that has run for the board in the past.

