CENTRAL JERSEY: Candidates file to run for school board seats

By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
Candidates in Cranbury, Monroe, Jamesburg and South Brunswick have filed have filed with the Middlesex County Clerk’s office to run for seats on their local school boards. Election day is Nov. 4.
In Cranbury there are have three open spots, though only two, both incumbents, filed for positions for three-year terms. Candidates are Jennifer Cook of 16 Chamberlin Court, and Evelyn Spann of 28 Liedtke Drive. The other open spot was recently filled by newly appointed board member Ashutosh Hadap, taking the seat of for former board member Kevin Fox. Mr. Hadap was appointed on July 22. Business Administrator Joyce Picariello said Mr. Hadap was expected to run for this seat, but no official word was available from the Cranbury school board or the county clerk’s office if anyone had filed for that seat.
In Jamesburg, there were openings for three three-year terms and one two-year term starting in January 2015. No one filed for the two-year term, currently being filled by Mrs. Sonny Czarneski, who was filling in for a one-year term. The candidates for the three-year terms are incumbents Linda Newton of 5 Seddwick Ave., and William Maresca of 4 Prospect St.
In Monroe, three are three open seats. Seven people are running for three-year terms. Incumbent and Board President Kathy Kolupanowich of 104 Bergen Mills Road, has submitted a petition to run again. She has been a board member since 1999.
New candidates are Louis C. Masters of 9 Mayapple Court, George Tatoris of 159 Valencia Drive, Steven Ribibick of 23 Riviera Drive, Richard Gibbons of 415 School House Road, Frank Russo of 9 Warren Court, and Jill Demaio of 48 Linwood Drive.
Current board members Ken Chiarella and Amy Antelis are not seeking re-lection. Mr. Chiarella has been on the board since 2008, while Ms. Antelis was a former board president and has served over 20 years on the Monroe Board of Education, since 1992.
In South Brunwsick, there are three open spots for three three-year terms. All three incumbents are running again. Incumbent candidates are Patrick Del Piano of 19 Drinkingbrook Road in Monmouth Junction, Deven M. Patel of 67 Larry Court in Dayton, and Arthur L. Robinson of 37 Russet Road in Kendall Park. New candidates are Melissa N. Katz of 1705 Pheasant Run in Monmouth Junction, Edward Birch of 16 Eastern Drive in Kendall Park and Anilkumar C. Patel of 43 Anderson Way. Mr. Birch is a freelance writer and photographer whose work appears in the South Brunswick Post.