HUDSON COUNTY — School board election results are in, although the machine numbers in any close races may be challenged by appeals by the candidates in the next few days.
In Hoboken, the “Kids First” team endorsed by Mayor Dawn Zimmer will expand their school board majority. Irene Sobolov, Leon Gold, and current Board President Rose Markle won the three-year terms before provisional ballots were counted. But John Madigan was a close fourth, and may be able to challenge Markle. Madigan was the only candidate not running on a slate.
There was also a race to finish a one-year term. The “Kids First” candidate Jean Marie Mitchell won that term.
In that town, these four candidates beat out a slate of four Republican candidates calling themselves “Real Results” and endorsed by current school board member Maureen Sullivan. Still, the Republican candidates managed to amass at least 500 votes each, a significant showing for Republicans in heavily Democratic Hudson County. Usually, school and municipal races in Hoboken are non-partisan, with all Democrats running.
Meanwhile, in Secaucus, Board of Education candidates Sal Manente, Mary Ann Weiner, and John McStowe won against three opponents. The budget also passed.
In Jersey City, Sterling Waterman and Angel Valentin appeared to beat other candidates by far, with Carol Lester coming in third place. The three were endorsed by Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop.
They were far ahead of incumbents including former Mayor Gerry McCann, who had predicted numerous teacher layoffs and other financial problems. Former basketball start Terry Dehere, another incumbent, also came up short.
Both McCann and Dehere had voted against the recent teachers’ contract.
In North Bergen, Charlotte DiGennaro, Edward LaTour, and Miguel Hector trounced three independents. But their school budget failed to pass.
The other towns in our coverage area had uncontested school elections.
Hoboken, Jersey City, Secaucus, North Bergen school board FINAL RESULTS’Kids First’ scores in Hoboken; McCann voted out in Jersey City
