NORTH BERGEN – Mayor Nicholas Sacco announced his support for the “Our Children First 2015” ticket for the upcoming North Bergen Board of Education election. The ticket features longtime Board Trustee Ruth Shaw and newcomers Sam Jaafar and Claudia Rodriguez. Shaw, Jaafar, and Rodriguez will run in the April 21 school board election in ballot positions 4, 9, and 11.
“This school board ticket represents the diversity that makes North Bergen such a dynamic place, and it features three candidates with strong ties to our community who care deeply about public education,” said Sacco. “I am proud to support Ruth, Sam, and Claudia and look forward to working with them.”
Ruth Shaw has served on the Board of Education for the past nine years and will be running for her fourth term. Sam Jaafar is a supply chain manager at a large engineering firm who has lived in North Bergen for over 30 years and has three young children in township schools. If elected, Jaafar would become the first Arab-American elected official in township history. Claudia Rodriguez works as a legislative aide to Senator Sacco, assisting him with research and drafting of legislation and handling constituent services.
Jaafar and Rodriguez are running in the place of longtime trustee Maurena Luzzi, who is retiring from elected office, and Board of Education President Julio Marenco, who is not seeking re-election and is running on the Sacco team for the Township Commission.
Sacco team Board of Education candidates announced
