Two Incumbents, Two Newcomers Elected To Asbury Park Board
By ELLEN CARROLL
Asbury Park residents returned two incumbents to their seats on the Board of Education is this weeks election and approved the $4.8 million tax levy by a vote of 245 to 199.
Only eight percent of the voters, 560 residents, turned out at the polls to elect four to the school board.
Board President Robert DiSanto won his second term with 323 votes. Board member Gregory Brewington, who was appointed to a vacant seat on the board last year, won an unexpired two-year term with 304 votes. He beat Alena Berry, a newcomer, who received 175 votes.
Also winning three-year terms were Geneva Smallwood, the top vote-getter, with 385 votes. This was her second bid for a seat. Smallwood is a residential counselor for Easter Seals and a substitute teacher in Long Branch.
Newcomer Susan Bisaha, who has worked in the education field for 17 years, also won a seat with 256 votes.
DiSanto said he was happy he was returned to the board to finish the work the board started.
I think we have a very strong board now and I look forward to working with the new members, he said. We will continue to move the district forward.
Smallwood said she was pleased to see that the voters and residents had confidence in her.
I will do my best to work with the other board members and see what we can do about raising student achievement, she said. I hope I can be helpful in the decision-making process.
Smallwood, a parent, gave credit to the churches and AP Action, a political action committee, who endorsed her.
It was a collaboration of everyones efforts, she said, and thats a good thing. I am really happy about that.
Smallwood said she hopes to get more parents and residents involved in the schools. She is encouraging residents to attend a meeting April 26 at the Asbury Park Middle School about restructuring there.
This is a very important meeting and everyone needs to be there, she said.
Also running this week were Annette Harrell, who received 179 votes; Hatim Sonnier, who received 149 votes and Richard Clayton, who received121 votes.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
