JACKSON – Township voters went to the polls to decide which three council candidates they’d like to be seated at the dais for the next four years. They also had to determine which three school board candidates should occupy board seats for three-year terms out of the five who ran.
In an unofficial vote count the winners of the council race were incumbent Republican Councilmen Nino Borrelli with 11,016, Mordechai Burnstein at 9,180, joined by running mate Giuseppe Palmeri with 10,923. They ran under the banner of “Proven Leadership.”
Not on the ballot for reelection was incumbent Steven Chisholm did not receive an endorsement by the Jackson Republican Club’s screening process. Chisholm took note of that at a recent council meeting saying it was a back door arrangement and that he was the most conservative Republican within the club.
Independent Republicans featuring the motto of “The Voice You Deserve” included Elenor M. Hannum, with 8,082 votes, her husband Eric B. Hannum, with 7,363 and Amanda Trombetta who came in with 9,006.
Running independently was Hope Drew with the slogan of “Jackson Needs Hope” who received 8,176.
It was a very active campaign and some candidates took to social media promoting and refuting commentary or false information by their opponents. Jackson is well known for having a conservative GOP government and no Democrats ran this year.
Campaign issues concerned the fear of overdevelopment within the township, overspending, transparency and code enforcement.
The township’s master plan is also under review and updating and the future of Rova Farms Park and recent changes made to the plan were also the subject of discussions during public comment periods at recent township council meetings.
Palmeri is currently the president of the BOE and will be leaving by the end of the year..
The winners of the school board race offered few surprises with Michael Walsh who left the board over a year ago returning to the board having received 10,704 votes. Current BOE Vice President Tina Kas sought reelection and received 10,023. The top vote getter was incumbent Erica Osmond who received 11,079 in the three-seat race for three-year terms.
Former BOE member Gustavo “Gus” Acevedo also sought to reclaim a seat on the panel and received 7,357 votes. Also running was political newcomer Jason Such who received 6,247 votes.
Issues of the school district are primarily financial with the school system having been hit hard with years of state aid funding cuts due to the S-2 state aid funding formula.
The school district was forced to put up one of its 10 schools for sale in recent months, transferring students of the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School to a nearby elementary school. Staff reductions, the elimination of some busing and some sports programs were also the result of the district’s financial woes.
Each of the candidates advocated for the revision of the S-2 formula and continued efforts by the administration to work with lawmakers to restore funding to the district.
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