By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
If voters were relying on the annual school board candidates’ forum — sponsored by the Lawrence League of Women Voters — to learn more about the would-be school board members, they are out of luck this year.
That’s because the annual forum — scheduled for Oct. 15 — has been canceled for lack of response from two of the four candidates. This marks the first time in many years that the candidates’ night forum will not be held.
Up for grabs in the Nov. 4 general election are three seats on the Lawrence Township Board of Education. There are four candidates vying for the three openings, but the candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans. The term is for three years.
The Lawrence League of Women Voters reached out to candidates Glenn Collins, Dana R. Drake, Harriet Johnson and Max Ramos in August. Ms. Johnson and Mr. Ramos accepted the invitation, but Mr. Collins and Ms. Drake — who is an incumbent school board member — did not.
"This is a very unfortunate occurrence and may be the first time candidates for public office have declined to appear before the public in a non-partisan forum organized by the Lawrence League of Women Voters," according to the league’s newsletter.
Mr. Collins lives on Bearfort Way. He is a field claims investigator for Encompass. He has two children enrolled in the public school district.
Ms. Drake, who lives on Roxboro Road, was appointed last year to fill out an unexpired term. She is seeking her first full term. She grew up in Lawrence Township and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1996. She has one child enrolled in the public school district.
Ms. Johnson, who is a retired educator, lives on Avalon Way. She retired from the New Jersey Department of Higher Education’s math, science and teaching improvement grant program. Her son graduated from Lawrence High School.
Mr. Ramos lives on Woodlane Road. He is a business manager at Hewlett Packard Corp., and has two children enrolled in the public school district.
