Resident Seeks Write-In Vote for School Board

As Washington Township residents searched for light and heat in the past week, one of your neighbors made a decision that may round out the uncertainty of a school board election set for Tuesday.

Three seats on the Washington Township Board of Education are currently open, and just two incumbents are running for reelection.

Kristin Gallagher, who was appointed to her seat in the summer of 2011, is running for election for the first time. Incumbent Perry Kwok is also vying for his own seat.

With board president Michael Rec not running for reelection, that left a vacant seat heading into the election.

That was until Michael St. Jacques threw his hat into the ring recently as a write-in candidate. St. Jacques, the father of three children in the school district, has coached soccer and helped with his son’s baseball teams.

“I think this is my opportunity to provide a contribution to the community,” St. Jacques said. “It’s my time to help out.”

Both the Washington Township and West Morris Regional School Board elections were moved to November after both governing bodies voted to move their individual events back in January this year.

Write-in candidates for school board seats need just one tally to be named the winner.