This year is no different, as five candidates submitted petitions to fill three seats for the April 18 school election.
This year, however, only two of the candidates are incumbents, as Board Member John Shinnick leaves for a big-league run for the 3rd Ward council seat in November.
The two incumbents, Angelo Andriani and Mauro DeGennaro, ran as a team with Shinnick in 2003, with the backing of Mayor Dennis Elwell.
Angelo Andriani
Andriani had 15 years as a member of the Secaucus Board of Education before leaving the board in the late 1990s. He served nearly 40 years as a teacher in the Hoboken school district. During his tenure on the board, he served as president five times.
Andriani said he decided to come back to the board because he now has time.
Andriani has long been a fan of community theater and strongly supported the construction of the community auditorium near the auditorium during this most recent tenure.
Mauro DeGennaro
DeGennaro has been in education for 29 years, first as a science teacher, then as the director for athletics at Hoboken High School. As a trustee on the Secaucus Library Board, DeGennaro served as the school superintendent's representative. He was deeply involved the construction of the new library, a project that had kept him from running for the school board sooner.
DeGennaro has extensive experience in athletics, serving previously on the executive committee for the state and county athletic associations.
Mark Bruscino
Mark Bruscino, owner of L & M Lawn Sprinklers and a supervisor of Plant operations for the Kearny Board of Education, is a 1978 graduate of Secaucus High School.
Bruscino said he intends to use his experiences in the public and private sectors for the good of the school system.
But as a homeowner and taxpayer, he says he is conscious that about half of local taxes go toward the schools and that, in his role in Kearny, he has helped save money through various programs.
Arlene Brommer and Andrew John Conti
Also running is Arlene Brommer, wife of former Secaucus Housing Authority commissioner George Brommer. "She would be a great asset," said School Board Member Tom Troyer, who said he will support her campaign. Brommer is a nurse and teacher in the Union City School system.
Rounding out the candidates is Andrew John Conti, a former employee of the Hudson County Sheriff's Office, who currently provides security for the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
The five candidates will be on the ballot with the new school budget, the details of which have not yet been introduced to the public.
"It's still in committee," Troyer said, noting that the budget will likely be made public within the next two weeks. Troyer could not say what the increase would be, if any.
"I'm not on the budget committee," he said.
Post a Comment