Regional Board President Won't Seek Re-Election

Sitting West Morris Regional Board of Education President James Johnston has not filed a petition for re-election, leaving the Chester Township representative's seat up for grabs in November.

Mendham Borough representative Jacke Schram has filed to keep her seat on the board and is being challenged by newcomer Brian Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh has been outspoken about his desire to break apart the regional school district and has presented his case to the governing bodies over the past few months.

Johnston, who served on the Chester Consolidated School District School Board before sitting on the regional school board said the time had come for him to step down. 

"It's time to move on," he said.

And while the current president woudn't commit to saying he was done for good, he did say he was "just taking a break for now."

Johnson's seat is being sought after by Russ Cimbrinski, Bruce Sullivan, and Gary Lakritz. Lakritz is a long-time member of the Chester Consolidated School District Board of Education and lost to Marcia Asdal for a regional school board seat in 2011.

Two open seats are available on the Washington Township side of the board, and incumbents Lisa Woodring and Tom Richar have filed to run for re-election unopposed. Woodring will be running for a three-year term, and Richar a one-year term.

Local Remains The Same

Three incumbents all filed for re-election on the Washington Township Board of Education, none of whom are being challenged.

Current president and vice president, Cathleen Compoli and Kathleen Koop, respectively, are seeking additional three-year terms, while Kristin Gallagher, completing her first one-year term, filed to run for re-election of a three-year seat.

The school board elections run simultaneaously with the government votes on November 5, 2013.