Hitesh Mehta is a newcomer to local politics, but he’s beginning to understand what it is like to run for the North Bergen Board of Education as an independent candidate. Mehta, a North Bergen resident for the last 12 years, has been actively campaigning on his own, with an in-depth and detailed flier and mailer that has been circulated throughout the township.
Mehta and two other independents – William Koehler and Herb Shaw – are seeking to unseat incumbents Charlotte DiGennaro, Miguel Hector and Edward Latour, all of whom are seeking their third three-year terms as members of the board. However, all three have received the support of the township’s Democratic Association, which will make things a little easier for them to gain re-election on Tuesday, April 17.
DiGennaro, Hector and Latour did not return phone calls for this article.
Taking them on
Hitesh Mehta wants to base his candidacy on his plans to implement an After School Hour program to develop creative skills, to implement cultural activities that include both ethic students and American students, to study the feasibility of virtual classrooms for gifted and talented students after school hours, and to continue to develop technology in the classroom.
He is the father of two school-age boys, ages 8 and 6, and his wife is expecting a third child in June.
“Today’s children are tomorrow’s pillars of our nation,” is Mehta’s campaign slogan.
Koehler and Shaw have run for school board several times.
The owner and proprietor of his own iron works company, Koehler has sought a seat on the Board of Education for the last four years, with no success.
“I guess it’s like those who run the New York marathon, but have no chance of winning,” said Koehler, a father of seven children who were all home-schooled. “I have a lot to offer if people would stop to listen. But unless you have the backing of the machine, you have little or no chance of winning. However, it’s not going to stop me from trying to make a ripple in the smooth-running machine.”
Herb Shaw has run for local and higher office a total of 26 times in his career. You name the elected position and Shaw’s name has appeared on the ballot – U.S. Senate, Congress, local municipal offices, as well as the North Bergen Board of Education ballot, where his name will be spotted once again in next week’s election.
“I run for everything, but I never get elected,” said Shaw, who is an electrical stationary engineer. “I’ve lost every election I’ve ever been in so far.”
Shaw added, “Usually, I’m up against the organizational people every time. Whoeever’s in control, that’s whom I’m against.”
Shaw would like to see a better control of the proposed $73 million school budget – which will also appear on the ballot next Tuesday.
“Where the money is, that’s where the patronage is,” Shaw said. “There is a lot of money in the entire school system. We don’t have the leadership to keep us in the forefront. We should be concentrating on the top 10 percent of the class, the future engineers. That’s where the money should be spent. Not on the students who won’t amount to anything.”
Added Shaw, “If I’m on a boat in the ocean, I want the strongest guys rowing the boat. I don’t want mediocre people. Right now, it seems to be a case of who gets what and how much? For the amount of money we spend per student, nearly $10,000 per student, I don’t think the money is being spent properly.”
Koehler is a little more subdued with his opinions and has strong opinions, especially about possible school vouchers.
“The vouchers would force the public schools to do their best, to prove that they are worthy of the tax dollars,” Koehler said. “The teachers who are the most conscientious would be retained and the dead wood would be terminated. But you constantly see the political appointees get hired and that has to be discouraging to the teachers who are doing a good job. We should want to produce the best student possible.”
Koehler said that he would like to see additional courses included in the current curriculum, like abortion awareness and a firearm safety course.
“The students could learn the importance of firearms in history, as well as the proper use of firearms,” Koehler said. “People actually think what they see in movies, on television and in videogames is real life. With the rights to own firearms comes responsibilities and children should be made aware.”
Koehler is also hopeful to see a student liaison become part of the general Board of Education.