By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
ALLENTOWN – Lara Michaud has won a three-year term on the Upper Freehold Regional School District Board of Education as a representative from Allentown.
Michaud was appointed to the board in September to complete an unexpired term that will end on Dec. 31.
During the campaign season, the three-year term that will run from January 2017 through December 2019 was sought by Michaud and by Alicia Case, who both campaigned as write-in candidates. No names appeared on the ballot in Allentown for the seat.
It took county officials about a month after the Nov. 8 election to determine the winner of the seat. When county officials initially reviewed every write-in ballot, they determined that Case and Michaud each received 33 write-in votes.
A recount of the ballots was conducted by county officials on Dec. 8 and Michaud was declared the winner. According to results posted by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, Michaud received 35 write-in votes and Case received 33 write-in votes.
“I am deeply honored to be able to serve this great community and school district,” Michaud said. “I am also thankful for everyone in the community who supported me, including the esteemed board members.”
Allentown and Upper Freehold Township are the member municipalities of the regional school district. The school board is made up of seven residents of Upper Freehold Township and two residents of Allentown.
Because Millstone Township residents of high school age attend Allentown High School in the regional district on a tuition basis, one member of the Millstone Township K-8 School District Board of Education sits on the regional board and votes on matters pertaining to the high school.