School board supporters that backed failed referendum for new $241 million high school took the three open spots on the Hoboken Board of Education election.
With a low turnout to support the referendum, Board of Education watchers were leery about winning the election. But a strong voter turnout supported the people aligned with a decades-old effort to improve the district. Part of that reform had evolved into a referendum for a new building since a space crunch has been developing over the past five years. But lower voter turnout with just under 10,000 votes vs. more than 32,000 in the Board of Education election kept the referendum from passing.
Still smarting from the failed effort, voters turned out big high for the elections, reaching as much as 45% in some districts. Voters supported the “Leadership that Listens” ticket 3 to 1 over the other ticket and two independents.
Candidates on that ticket are Leslie Norwood, Antonio Graña, and Alex de la Torre Jr. defeated the Kids First Team of Pavel Sokolov, Cindy Wiegand, and Donna Magen. John Madigan and Patricia Waiters ran as independents.
Norwood, a member of the Hoboken Public Education Foundation and a first time candidate for the board, received the most votes, 5,804, according to unofficial results from the Hudson County Clerk’s website. She advocated for improved school curricula in public schools and called for more transparency with the school budget.
Antonio Graña, is a member of the city’s Zoning Board and a first time candidate as well, received 5,245 votes. He was part of the committee that raised money in support of the failed referendum to create a $241 million high school at the site of the current JFK Stadium.
Alex de la Torre. Jr. won reelection with 5,125 votes and campaigned for long-term facility investment, higher enrollments for students, and more civic engagement with students.
Nearly 15 years ago the district had been under state review for numerous state violations. The district faced three superintendents in five years. Since Superintendent Christine Johnson has been at the helm, however, the district has showed substantial stability and growth. That reform came under a group “Kids First” but the ticket that ran under the “Kids First” platform this year shows no connection to the reform movement. The ticket was instrumental in leading the No vote against the new school in last year’s Special Election on Jan. 25 in which 17% voter turnout spurned the idea for a new $241 million building complete with an ice rink.
