HOLMDEL – Joseph Hammer, Michael Sockol and Elizabeth Urbanski have been elected to three-year terms on the Holmdel Board of Education.
The trio outpolled incumbent Lori Ammirati and newcomers Jaimie Hynes and John Martinez in the school election on Nov. 5.
Hammer is a former board member and served as board president for two years. Sockol has served on the Board of Education since 2010 and is won his fourth term on the board. Urbanski won her first term on the board.
Hammer, Sockol and Urbanski will begin serving their new terms on Jan. 8.
According to unofficial results posted online by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, Hammer registered 1,760 votes, Urbanski received 1,751 votes and Sockol recorded 1,715 votes to claim the seats. Ammirati received 1,702 votes, Hynes picked up 1,652 votes and Martinez earned 721 votes and fell short of their bids for a seat on the board.
The winning candidates commented on the results of the election.
Ammirati said, “It has been an honor serving on the Holmdel Board of Education. As a 32-year veteran teacher I was driven by my passion for education to run for re-election. I was fortunate to create meaningful relationships with my fellow board members and school administrators, and the time I have spent with them has been greatly enriched and enhanced by their knowledge, dedication, and efforts/initiatives to maintain an excellent school district. I enjoyed sharing my experience and knowledge within the Holmdel BOE for the last three years, but I am confident in the abilities and the dedication of the newly elected/re-elected members.”
Hynes said, “I am writing to thank every person who voted for me in the Holmdel Board of Education Election. I am also writing to thank all of the people who were supportive of my candidacy in various ways. I appreciated all very much. I want to congratulate Joe Hammer, Elizabeth Urbanski and Mike Sockol on a being elected! I know you will make us proud. As a first time candidate, I learned a lot during the election process. It was a joy to connect with community members and hear the concerns others have with our school district. I am positive that this Board of Education will do everything to ensure Holmdel is one of the best school districts in NJ.”
Sockol said, “I’m honored to be given another opportunity to serve Holmdel residents on the School Board. Thank you so much for your trust and support. It was an extremely close race, reflecting the high caliber of the candidates who chose to run. I look forward to working with Joe Hammer and Elizabeth Urbanski on the board next year, and I also commend Jaimie Hynes and John Martinez for showing a willingness to give their time and energy in support of our schools. I wanted to add that I will miss working with Lori Ammirati on the school board. She was a true champion for our kids and our teachers, and truly hope we can benefit from her passion on the board again in the near future.”