Two incumbent school board members are fending off a challenger in a three-way race for the two open seats on the East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education in the Nov. 2 general election.
Incumbent school board members Christina “Tina” Lands and Colleen Murphy are facing challenger Jagruti Patel in the race for two seats earmarked for East Windsor residents. The term is for three years.
But two incumbent school board members – Robert Laverty and Jenna Drake – are running unopposed.
Laverty is seeking a two-year term on the school board representing East Windsor, and Drake is seeking a three-year term on the school board to represent Hightstown.
Seven of the nine total seats on the school board are set aside for East Windsor residents and two are designated for Hightstown residents.
Murphy, who is seeking one of the two open seats to represent East Windsor, is a lifelong resident of the township. She is a graduate of Hightstown High School. She is an editor and writer for a health website.
Murphy does not have children enrolled in the East Windsor Regional School District.
Murphy said she ran for a seat on the school board three years ago because she wanted to ensure that students had at least as good an experience in the school district as she had – and possibly a better one.
“It still holds true today. I am running for re-election because I want to continue to be a voice on the board that advocates for every student,” Murphy said.
She is completing her first term on the school board.
“I feel as though the perspective I have added to the board these past three years has benefitted the board and, in turn, the district, its students and the community as a whole. It is my hope that I will be able to continue to do this,” she said.
Drake, who could not be reached for comment, is completing her second term on the school board.
Lands, who is completing her first term on the school board, could not be reached for comment by press time.
Patel could not be reached for comment by press time.
Laverty, who is a 32-year resident of East Windsor, has served on the school board off and on since 2001. His three children are graduates of the East Windsor Regional School District. He could not be reached for additional comment by press time.