Area school districts recently announced candidates for this year’s school board elections which will be held on April 17.
By:Vanessa S. Holt and David Koch
Following are the number of open seats on each school board, the length of the terms and the incumbents and new candidates for each seat in each school district as well as any board members with expired terms who are stepping down.
CHESTERFIELD
Four petitions have been submitted for the two open seats on the Chesterfield Board of Education. Both seats are for three-year terms.
Incumbent James Durr will seek re-election, and Mary Brennan-Mazzoni will step down from her seat.
New candidates seeking election are Marlene Cohen, Beth Lawrence-Gill and Susan Layton.
FLORENCE
Five people are running for the three open seats on the Florence Township Board of Education this year. All seats are for three-year terms.
Incumbents Richard Brown and Robert Honey will seek re-election, and Renee Cardoza is stepping down from her seat.
New candidates William Berry, Denise Paykos and Lawrence Lockett have filed petitions to run.
SPRINGFIELD
Two incumbents and three new candidates are seeking election to three open seats on the Springfield Board of Education. The seats are three-year-length terms.
Paul Tootell and Melissa Bauma will seek re-election, and John Petrino is stepping down from his seat.
New candidates John Megariotis, Barbara Sobotka and Greg Quagliato have filed petitions to run.
BORDENTOWN REGIONAL
Two incumbents, Gary Nucera and Debbie Burns, are running again for three open seats on the Bordentown Regional Board of Education. Both seats are for three-year terms.
One incumbent, John R. Gabauer, who has been on the board for many years, has chosen not to run again. Newcomer Joseph Gore is vying for his open seat.
NORTHERN BURLINGTON
The Northern Burlington Regional Board of Education has two open seats available. Incumbents Spencer LaDue and Roy Johnson, both of North Hanover, are running for the three-year seats.
MANSFIELD
Two incumbents, Dr. Marion Tallon and Ralph Wainwright, are running for re-election to three open seats on the Mansfield Board of Education. All seats are for three-year terms. Incumbent Don Knecick is not running for re-election to the school board. So far, no candidate has offered to run for the empty spot.
The deadline for candidate filing has passed, and officials said write-in candidates will be accepted when voters go to the polls. If there are no write-in candidates, the school board will fill the appointment for one year.
NORTH HANOVER
The North Hanover Board of Education has two seats open this year. Both seats are for three-year terms.
Incumbent Janet Bruder is running for re-election. Another incumbent, Vito D’Amato, chose not to run again. Newcomer William Sullivan is running for that open position.
NEW HANOVER
In New Hanover, the nine-member school board has three seats up for election this year. All open seats are for three-year terms.
Two incumbents, Teresa Peterla and Loretta Jobes, are running for re-election. Incumbent James Severns is not running for re-election. Newcomer Richard Slater is running for that open seat.
