JERSEY CITY – With a little more than 96 percent of the votes tabulated, three of the four Candidates for Excellence slate won seats on the Jersey City Board of Education on Tuesday night. But the slate, which was backed by Mayor Steven Fulop, also suffered a defeat.
Jessica Daye, who ran on the Candidates for Excellence ticket, was the big winner of the night with 9,054 votes. Fellow slate mate Micheline Amy received 7,613 votes, with 96 percent of the vote counted. Long time education advocate Ellen Simon, who also ran on the Candidates for Excellence slate, received 4,566 votes. The three candidates to receive the most number of votes will each serve three-year terms on the Board of Education.
However, current School Board Trustee Carol Lester, who also ran on the Candidates for Excellence slate, lost her bid to serve out the remainder of former school Trustee Marvin Adames’ term on the board. Lester, who received 6,287 votes, was defeated by Angel Valentin, who won 7,423 votes.
Valentin, who ran on the Children First slate, will serve out the rest of Adames’ term on the School Board, which ends on Dec. 31, 2014.
The Children First ticket was endorsed by the local teachers’ union. – E. Assata Wright
Fulop-backed candidates, except one, win Jersey City school board race
