Deadline approaches to run for Verona BOE seat

Verona residents have until July 31 to decide to run for a seat on the Board of Education.

The filing deadline will come at 4 p.m. to submit a nominating petition with the Essex County Clerk's Office. The Verona Board of Education will have one seat open in the November 2017 election, that of current Vice President Lisa Freschi. The incumbent said she intends to run for another term.

“It was an easy decision,” Freschi said. “After serving the time up to this point, it’s exciting. It’s very dynamic people working on the board right now. I feel we’ve made a lot of progress, and to be part of that team to continue moving forward is very appealing.”

Connor McCann, a 20-year-old student at Montclair State University, also filed to run for a spot on the BOE. McCann said he’s a dedicated public servant as evidenced by his membership on the Verona Fire Department and Verona Rescue Squad.

“I believe I can [bring that attitude] to the Board of Education,” McCann said.

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Freschi joined the BOE in January 2015 after receiving the most votes in the previous November’s election. She has lived in Verona for nearly 20 years, works as a business consultant, and has three sons who all graduated from Verona High School. 

Though she has not met McCann, Freschi praised his initiative.

“It’s great to see a young person with that kind of drive and ambition give back in that arena, and I wish him luck as well,” she said.

School board nominating petitions for the November election should be returned to the county, not the Verona school district. The county clerk’s address is: Essex County Clerk Election Division, Hall of Records, 465 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Room 246, Newark, NJ 07102. The office’s hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Information on candidate's kits can be found online at veronaschools.org. 

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com