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ROBBINSVILLE: Signs point to election confusion?

By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
   ROBBINSVILLE — School board elections will be held in November this year for the first time and that’s apparently led to voter confusion and some grousing about alleged political meddling in what’s traditionally low-key nonpartisan races.
   Keith Kochberg, the only one of five school board incumbents in a contested race, is taking issue with the Oct. 3 fundraiser for his opponent, Shaina Ciaccio, the daughter-in-law of Township Councilwoman Chris Ciaccio, which was hosted by a state assemblyman, the mayor and four council members.
   Mr. Kochberg also contends the placement around town of Ciaccio campaign signs next to those of Township Councilman Dennis Shennard, who is also on the ballot Nov. 6, is confusing to voters. (Mr. Shennard’s opponent in his Township Council race is David Boyne, whose wife, Carol, is school board vice president.)
   ”I think it is unfortunate that the first year that there are November elections, this is happening,” Mr. Kochberg said in a phone conversation Tuesday. “The intent of holding November elections was to save tax dollars not confuse voters.”
   Ms. Ciaccio responds that she and Mr. Shennard are longtime friends and their side-by-side campaign signs are clear that they are running for different offices.
   ”We are running two separate campaigns,” Ms. Ciaccio said Tuesday. “The fundraising is separate and the campaigns are separate. We just put our signs up together because we are friends.”
   Mr. Kochberg also points to a Ciaccio fundraiser listed on the “Friends of the GOP in Mercer County NJ” website. It reads: “Join Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo, Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried, and Robbinsville Council Members Ron Witt, Vince Calcagno, Chris Ciaccio, and Sheree McGowan in honoring Shaina Ciaccio, Robbinsville School Board Candidate.” The $40 per person event was to be held last night (Oct. 3) at Centro Grille, after The Messenger-Press went to print.
   ”To me, it illustrates the potential for political interference,” Mr. Kochberg said. “It certainly leaves open speculation on whether there could be influence post-campaign on school board matters.”
   Ms. Ciaccio said the hosts of her fundraiser are all longtime friends and she is grateful to them for helping to “get my name out there and meet voters,” but any speculation that they might influence her decisions, should she be elected to the school board, was “really ridiculous.”
   Council President Witt said Monday night he saw no problem with he and his colleagues on the council supporting Ms. Ciaccio for the school board seat.
   ”I really don’t see how that’s any different from Carol Boyne sitting on the Board of Education and David Boyne running for Township Council,” he said.
   Mayor Fried, when asked last week about his endorsement of Ms. Ciaccio and the controversy it has created, called the situation ironic because his support for the board’s Dec. 11 school expansion referendum is welcome, but his support of a candidate running in the Nov. 6 election is apparently not.
   ”I guess I’m useful when I’m useful, and then I’m not,” he said.
   Board of Education President Mike Reca said Monday he had no comment about the situation because the board’s attorney had advised him he’s not permitted as board president to make statements about any candidate’s campaign.
   There are five school board seats available Nov. 6: three seats are for full three-year terms; one seat is for a two-year unexpired term; and one seat is for a one-year unexpired term. Incumbents Faith Silvestrov, Flo Gange and Vincent Costanza are running unopposed for the three-year seats; Mr. Kochberg and Ms. Ciaccio are running against each other for the two-year seat; and Matt O’Grady is running unopposed for the one-year seat.
   Ms. Ciaccio filed in June to run for one of the three full-term seats, but later amended her paperwork to challenge Mr. Kochberg instead for the two-year seat.
   Mr. Kochberg, who was appointed to his seat in 2011 by the school board to fill a vacancy until the next election could be held, is running a joint campaign with Dr. Costanza. Their fundraising activities would be minimal, he said.
   Mr. Kochberg said he and Dr. Costanza had held a “small gathering” at Dolce and Clemente’s Venue in Town Center in September for “family and friends,” and were “not accepting any donations from political or professional organizations.”