Six vie for three seats on Mat-Ab school board
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer
Three seats are up for grabs in this year's Matawan-Aberdeen Regional
Board of Education election, including two representing Aberdeen and
one representing Matawan.
Aberdeen incumbents William Marinella and Jan Rubino are both hoping
to keep their seats for another three-year term, while challengers
Kenneth Aitken and Donald Franklin are both seeking to serve their
first terms. The Matawan seat is between recently deceased incumbent
Arthur Fumarola and challenger Charles Kenny.
Marinella, 48, of 500 Lloyd Road, is looking to serve his third term
on the board. He is a 16-year Aberdeen resident, and owns two music
stores. He is married with one child. He earned a bachelor of arts
degree in business management from Seton Hall University, South
Orange.
Marinella said he is running for a third term because he feels the
district is headed in the right direction, and would like to ensure
that it continues to do so. He is especially proud of all the
renovations made to the buildings through the referendum. He feels his
six years of prior experience makes him an asset to the board, and
that it can help move things further along in the right direction.
Marinella said if he is re-elected, his top goals and priorities will
be to help reach an agreement on new teacher contracts, to see all the
building projects through to completion and ensure that each school is
fully staffed with high-quality people and to see student test scores
improve.
Rubino, 47, of 824 Arbordale Drive, is a 20-year Aberdeen resident.
She is married with two kids, one who graduated from the district and
one who is currently a sophomore in the high school. She is a
preschool teacher at St. John's Methodist School, Hazlet. She earned
an associate's degree in early education from Brookdale Community
College, Lincroft. She is seeking her second consecutive three-year
term.
Rubino said she is running again because three years just isn't enough
time, and there are too many things that she would like to see
through. She said her previous three years on the board allow her to
offer an experience perspective on all subjects.
She said she finds it extremely important for the people to understand
what is in a budget, and what the tax increase it creates actually
comes to monthly. She also said that if people understood what is in
the budget and how minimal the monthly increases actually are, it
might be easier to pass one.
If re-elected, Rubino plans to focus on seeing the reorganization
through, improving the academic ability of the students by offering
new programs and classes to pupils and teachers, and to educate people
on the budget.
Challenger Donald Franklin, 37, of 107 Aberdeen Road, is a 35-year
Aberdeen resident. He is married with two kids, one in fourth grade
and one in kindergarten. He is letter carrier for the United States
Postal Service. This is Franklin's second time running for the board.
He is seeking his first term.
Franklin said he chose to run due to a "deep interest in my child's
education." He feels he can bring a different, unique perspective to
the board.
"I think I'll give a new fresh life to the board, and I'll give them
an ear to the public, which is not there now," he said.
Franklin also said that the majority of the public doesn't know what
is in a budget, and that perhaps if they had a better understanding,
they would be more likely to pass it.
If elected, Franklin plans to work hard to lower the budget, raise the
students' test scores and ensure the safety and security of the
schools.
"I believe that when you send your child off, they should be in safe
hands, and that's what I'm trying to accomplish," he said.
Kenneth Aitken, of 65 Juniper Place, previously served six years in
the U.S. Navy's submarine force. He holds a bachelor's degree in
electrical engineering from Manhattan College, New York City, and a
master's degree in telecommunications technology management from
Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken. He has
two children in the public school system.
This is Aitken's second time running for a seat on the board. He is
seeking his first term.
Aitken could not be reached for further comment regarding his campaign.
Two on ballot for Matawan
The election process for the open Matawan seat uniquely differs this
election season. Running for the seat are Charles Kenny and Arthur
Fumarola, who passed away last week.
Fumarola's passing occurred after the deadline to have his name taken
off the ballot, ensuring his name remain in the running unless removed
by a court order.
Fumarola's wife, Marge, said that the family will take no action to
have her husband's name removed from the ballot, but will not actively
run his campaign. The family hopes, however, that out of respect for
his name, people will still get out and vote.
If Fumarola does win the election, his seat will be considered vacant,
and the board will appoint someone to it after accepting applications
and interviewing Matawan residents. The appointment will hold the seat
for one year, and will then have to run for election next year in
order to serve the remaining two years.
In an article in last week's edition, Board president Cathy Zavorskas
made statements explaining the process of how the election would work,
but feels that these statements as seen in print have implied that she
was suggesting residents vote against Kenny. Zavorskas said that her
statement simply meant that voters should know and understand that
they still have a choice in who to vote for because there will be two
names on the ballot, and they can vote for whomever they wish.
Charles [Chuck] Kenny, 40, of 5 Sarah Court, is married with two
children, one who is in the public school system, and one getting
ready to enter in September. Kenny is a lawyer with the law firm
Lopiano and Kenny, Hoboken. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall
University, South Orange. This is Kenny's first time running for the
board.
Kenny said he is running because he has been following the business of
the board and has viewed the need for professionalism. He said that he
could bring a unique perspective to the board through his experience
as a trial lawyer.
If elected, Kenny plans to work hard to maintain the fiscal
responsibility of the board, make sure that tax dollars are put to the
best possible place, to ensure the safety and success of the children.
Matawan and Aberdeen residents can vote for the candidate of their
choice, as well as the budget on April 19.
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer
Three seats are up for grabs in this year's Matawan-Aberdeen Regional
Board of Education election, including two representing Aberdeen and
one representing Matawan.
Aberdeen incumbents William Marinella and Jan Rubino are both hoping
to keep their seats for another three-year term, while challengers
Kenneth Aitken and Donald Franklin are both seeking to serve their
first terms. The Matawan seat is between recently deceased incumbent
Arthur Fumarola and challenger Charles Kenny.
Marinella, 48, of 500 Lloyd Road, is looking to serve his third term
on the board. He is a 16-year Aberdeen resident, and owns two music
stores. He is married with one child. He earned a bachelor of arts
degree in business management from Seton Hall University, South
Orange.
Marinella said he is running for a third term because he feels the
district is headed in the right direction, and would like to ensure
that it continues to do so. He is especially proud of all the
renovations made to the buildings through the referendum. He feels his
six years of prior experience makes him an asset to the board, and
that it can help move things further along in the right direction.
Marinella said if he is re-elected, his top goals and priorities will
be to help reach an agreement on new teacher contracts, to see all the
building projects through to completion and ensure that each school is
fully staffed with high-quality people and to see student test scores
improve.
Rubino, 47, of 824 Arbordale Drive, is a 20-year Aberdeen resident.
She is married with two kids, one who graduated from the district and
one who is currently a sophomore in the high school. She is a
preschool teacher at St. John's Methodist School, Hazlet. She earned
an associate's degree in early education from Brookdale Community
College, Lincroft. She is seeking her second consecutive three-year
term.
Rubino said she is running again because three years just isn't enough
time, and there are too many things that she would like to see
through. She said her previous three years on the board allow her to
offer an experience perspective on all subjects.
She said she finds it extremely important for the people to understand
what is in a budget, and what the tax increase it creates actually
comes to monthly. She also said that if people understood what is in
the budget and how minimal the monthly increases actually are, it
might be easier to pass one.
If re-elected, Rubino plans to focus on seeing the reorganization
through, improving the academic ability of the students by offering
new programs and classes to pupils and teachers, and to educate people
on the budget.
Challenger Donald Franklin, 37, of 107 Aberdeen Road, is a 35-year
Aberdeen resident. He is married with two kids, one in fourth grade
and one in kindergarten. He is letter carrier for the United States
Postal Service. This is Franklin's second time running for the board.
He is seeking his first term.
Franklin said he chose to run due to a "deep interest in my child's
education." He feels he can bring a different, unique perspective to
the board.
"I think I'll give a new fresh life to the board, and I'll give them
an ear to the public, which is not there now," he said.
Franklin also said that the majority of the public doesn't know what
is in a budget, and that perhaps if they had a better understanding,
they would be more likely to pass it.
If elected, Franklin plans to work hard to lower the budget, raise the
students' test scores and ensure the safety and security of the
schools.
"I believe that when you send your child off, they should be in safe
hands, and that's what I'm trying to accomplish," he said.
Kenneth Aitken, of 65 Juniper Place, previously served six years in
the U.S. Navy's submarine force. He holds a bachelor's degree in
electrical engineering from Manhattan College, New York City, and a
master's degree in telecommunications technology management from
Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken. He has
two children in the public school system.
This is Aitken's second time running for a seat on the board. He is
seeking his first term.
Aitken could not be reached for further comment regarding his campaign.
Two on ballot for Matawan
The election process for the open Matawan seat uniquely differs this
election season. Running for the seat are Charles Kenny and Arthur
Fumarola, who passed away last week.
Fumarola's passing occurred after the deadline to have his name taken
off the ballot, ensuring his name remain in the running unless removed
by a court order.
Fumarola's wife, Marge, said that the family will take no action to
have her husband's name removed from the ballot, but will not actively
run his campaign. The family hopes, however, that out of respect for
his name, people will still get out and vote.
If Fumarola does win the election, his seat will be considered vacant,
and the board will appoint someone to it after accepting applications
and interviewing Matawan residents. The appointment will hold the seat
for one year, and will then have to run for election next year in
order to serve the remaining two years.
In an article in last week's edition, Board president Cathy Zavorskas
made statements explaining the process of how the election would work,
but feels that these statements as seen in print have implied that she
was suggesting residents vote against Kenny. Zavorskas said that her
statement simply meant that voters should know and understand that
they still have a choice in who to vote for because there will be two
names on the ballot, and they can vote for whomever they wish.
Charles [Chuck] Kenny, 40, of 5 Sarah Court, is married with two
children, one who is in the public school system, and one getting
ready to enter in September. Kenny is a lawyer with the law firm
Lopiano and Kenny, Hoboken. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall
University, South Orange. This is Kenny's first time running for the
board.
Kenny said he is running because he has been following the business of
the board and has viewed the need for professionalism. He said that he
could bring a unique perspective to the board through his experience
as a trial lawyer.
If elected, Kenny plans to work hard to maintain the fiscal
responsibility of the board, make sure that tax dollars are put to the
best possible place, to ensure the safety and success of the children.
Matawan and Aberdeen residents can vote for the candidate of their
choice, as well as the budget on April 19.
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