Bridgewater-Raritan School Board Candidates Disclose Contributions

Signs for Bridgewater's School Board candidates compete for space.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) is responsible for assuring that candidates who run for office submit certain information.  One of those requirements concerns the amount of contributions made to their campaigns and the names of those contributors. 

Additionally, candidates are required to keep a record of their expenses, should there ever be any questions.

With respect to campaign contributions, candidates are required to fill out Form C-1 with the Commission, depending upon the amount and timing of those contributions.  This is a matter of public record, and you can easily view this information online at the Commission’s website by clicking here.  Enter first and last names in the dialogue box, click on the “Search” button, and follow the directions.

To make it easier for you, a summary of the candidates running for three open seats on the Bridgewater-Raritan School Board, their contributors, and their contributions appears below, as disclosed on Form C-1 online.

 These data are current as of mid-afternoon today.  They are listed in descending order within Bridgewater and Raritan, respectively, by the amount of total contributions for each candidate.  

Challengers Barbara Kane and Lisa Giranda, running as a team, list a single contributor, a Mr. Frank Chiaravalli, for a check in the amount of $2,500.  His occupation is shown as “Educator.” Mr. Chiaravalli is a math supervisor at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.

Incumbent Candidate Evan Lerner lists himself as the sole contributor, disclosing three amounts for a grand total of $819.95.

The form for incumbent Candidate Arvind Mathur shows one contribution of $750 made on his behalf by Chandra Mathur, whose occupation is listed as “Scientist.” 

Challenger Elizabeth Eisenger Lande’s Form C-1 does not yet appear online.  However, during a telephone conversation with her today, she indicated that the form has been filed with the Commission, and that the grand total is for $350.

The five candidates listed above are running for two open seats to be decided by Bridgewater voters on April 27^th. 

The two candidates listed below are vying for one open seat whose occupancy will be determined by Raritan voters:

Challenger Ann Marie B. Mead lists herself as the sole contributor of $500.

No Form C-1 is presently filed online for incumbent candidate Al Smith of Raritan.  This could simply mean that he is running a low-key, low-cost, name-recognition campaign.  I was unable to reach him today in time for this post; and, therefore, could not confirm that status. 

According to the ELEC, contributions below a certain amount do not need to be reported; although, as mentioned before, all candidates need to keep a record of expenses. 

Blogger’s Update:  As of early Friday afternoon, April 22, Mr. Smith, who has been away for a few days, responded to my call, indicating that he “did have to file to create a campaign account,” but that “the total amount (of expenses) is under $250.”  For that reason, he added, “I don’t have to do any (further) reporting.”  He also indicated that there are no other campaign contributors, “It’s all my own money.”

Supplemental Blogger’s Update, April 25: This is to confirm that Form C-1 (Contributions), dated April 19, for Bridgewater-Raritan Board candidate Elizabeth Eisenger Lande appears on the website of the Election Law Enforcement Center.  It is for a grand total of $350 in the form of  currency contributions.  There is no difference between this amount and that reported above during a prior phone call.