Six Candidates Apply for School Board Vacancy

Much of the attention in the local Bridgewater political realm is currently focused on the general election that will be held on November 8, 2011, for candidates hoping to fill the empty mayoral spot created by Mayor Patricia Flannery, who decided not to run for a third term, prompting a three-way race for that seat. 

The ballot for next Tuesday’s election  also includes contests for two seats on the Bridgewater Township Council; two on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders; and, in the 23^rd District, one seat for State Senate and two for the Assembly. 

Anda Cytroen, far left, with Board colleagues, 5/17/2011. (Image/Dick Bergeron)

However, there is another open seat for which you won’t get to vote for until April 2012, but which is also a critical post:  A vacancy occurred as the result of the resignation by Anda Cytroen, who, until recently, was a member of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education.

Ms. Cytroen’s 3-year term was scheduled to expire next April, at which time, in the normal course of events, she would have decided whether or not to run again.

But Cytroen’s in-term resignation means that the B-R BOE must fill her position with a person who, after appointment to the Board of Education, will occupy that post until next April, when the seat will be up for grabs again in the School Board/Budget election.

As of mid-afternoon last Monday, six candidates have filed papers to be considered for the job.  The deadline for filing is Wednesday, November 9^th, so there is plenty of time for any other aspiring board members to apply for the vacant seat. 

The following Tuesday, on November 15^th, at a special B-R BOE meeting in the Wade Administration Building in Martinsville, the Board is scheduled to interview in open session all candidates who have properly filed their applications by the November 9^th deadline.

So far, the candidates who have filed papers are listed below in alphabetical order:

·         Jacqueline M. Barlow, a Senior Product Manager with AT&T, and an 18-year Bridgewater resident.  Education:  MIT, Stanford University, University of Connecticut

·         John Chang, a Certified Acupuncturist in private practice, and a 25-year Bridgewater resident.  Education:  RVCC, Rutgers University, Samra University of Oriental Medicine.

·         Michele Moore, an Executive Assistant at F&G Mechanical Corp., an Emcor Company, and a 4.5-year Bridgewater resident.  Education:  Drake Secretarial College.

·         Joan L. Muldoon, a Supervisor of Special Services/School Psychologist, Clinton-Glen Gardner School District, and a 13-year Bridgewater resident.  Education:  Moravian College, Seton Hall University.

·         Daniel M. Petrozelli, Instructor, IBEW Local 102 JATC, Parsippany, NJ, a 7.5-year Bridgewater resident.  Education:  RVCC, National Training Institute at the University of Tennessee and University of Michigan.

·         Terri B.Yessman, an Eighth Grade Science Teacher, Hillsborough Middle School, and a 13-year Bridgewater resident.  Education:  William Paterson University, Seton Hall University.

In a contest of this nature, it’s always impossible to know how many other people are interested in this open seat on the B-R BOE.  Some potential candidates like to wait until very close to the filing deadline. 

Either way, I hope that this blog post gives any others who may have a serious eye on this seat a chance to think some more about whether or not to throw their hats into the ring.