Dear Editor:
As a former member of both the Town Council and the Secaucus Board of Education, I’m very familiar with the tough decisions that face our local elected officials. With the impending cutbacks in state aid to local governments, the challenges have increased.
Fortunately, this year we have three school board candidates, Sal Manente, Patricia Belenski, and Mary Ann Weiner who have the skills and dedication to face the task of maintaining quality education for our children in the face of a shrinking revenue base.
During my term as the First Ward’s councilman, I had the opportunity to work with Sal Manente. As a member of the Town Council, Sal was independent-minded and conscientious. I was greatly impressed with his ability to put aside political and personal concerns for the best interests of our community. He’ll continue follow the same path as a member of our local school board.
I’m equally impressed with Pat Belenski. Pat has a well-deserved reputation as an advocate for children’s needs and has taken an active role in civic affairs. Through the years she’s demonstrated the highest level of commitment to making Secaucus a better community. I have every confidence that she’ll display the same dedication as a school trustee.
Mary Ann Weiner’s credentials for a seat on our school board are unparalleled. Mary Ann is an experienced educator with a strong background in social services. As a school board member, she’ll provide an insightful, pragmatic approach to educational policy in Secaucus.
The coming year will be critical to the future of our schools and our children. It’s important that we have the right people on our local school board. To ensure the continued success of our educational system, I urge the people of Secaucus to join with me and vote for Sal Manente, Pat Belenski, and Mary Ann Weiner in the April 20th school board election.
Robert Campanella
Former First Ward Councilman