Bernards Township Board Of Education General Election 2025: Adam Lefkowitz

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Basking Ridge's general election on Nov. 4 has four candidates running for three open seats on the Bernards Township Board of Education.

Board member incumbent Keith Molinari, along with newly appointed Smrithi Mohan, are both running for re-election to the board. Mohan was selected on June 16 to fill a vacancy on the Bernards Township School Board after Csilla Csipak resigned in May.

Nimish Amin, who has served on the board since 2023, did not file to run.

The candidate field includes two challengers: Adam Lefkowitz and Faisal Anwar Chaudhry.

Are you running for office in Basking Ridge? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Basking Ridge Patch.

Adam Lefkowitz

Age: 50

Town of residence: Bernards Township

Position sought: Board of Education member

Family: I am the proud father of a third grade student at Cedar Hill Elementary School. My mother is a retired public school teacher as was my grandmother (obm.) My father is a retired attorney.

Education: I received a Bachelors of Science degree from Rutgers College in 1997 and a J.D. from Seton Hall Law School in 2000.

Occupation: I am a self-employed attorney at law.

Previous or current elected appointed office: N/A

Campaign website: mohanlefkowitz.com

Why are you seeking election for Bernards Township Board of Education?

My family taught me the importance of community service and volunteering my time to help others. Before moving to Basking Ridge, I volunteered as an EMT in my hometown of Edison. When my son’s mother and I were choosing a town in which to live, Basking Ridge was at the top of our list because it has one of the top public school districts in NJ. Now that I am settled here, I am ready to dedicate my time and my professional skill set to contribute to the community in a very meaningful way. I think a well-rounded education is foundational to a child’s future success in life. If elected, I would listen to students and parents and work with other board members to manage our budget constraints while maintaining educational excellence, always keeping student outcomes the center of our decisions.

School finances and school budget difficulties have been continuously discussed in the district. The district has suggested holding a special election to help raise funding. Would you be in favor of this?

I have been attending BOE meetings for the past year and understand that our district, like many others, faces significant budgetary challenges. As a member of the public I understand that the current Board considered the possibility of a public referendum but has declined to introduce one at this time. I do not come to the BOE with any preconceived ideas or solutions to our budget or any other issues. I do not have all the information that sitting members have. If elected, I would be open to hearing the pros and cons of any possible decisions from the Business Administrator and the other professionals who are in our schools every day. I would give careful consideration to all ideas.

Do you have any comments or suggestions on how the district could handle its budget?

Again, as a community member and a parent, I only know the financial information that has been presented publicly. That said, I know that the Board will have to make some very difficult decisions in the near future and that there is no way to keep everyone happy. Our district’s health care costs rose considerably in the past year, and along with energy and transportation, they make up a large portion of our budget gap. As the BOE generally must operate under a two percent tax levy cap, we must have a Board that can come together, challenge the Administration to think creatively, and ultimately make decisions that are in the best interest of all our students.

The district recently implemented a phone-free policy in the high school. How do you feel about this?

I support the phone-free policy at Ridge HS. We all know that phones can be very distracting. For students they can distract from academics and diminish interpersonal communication with both peers and adults. Perhaps even more importantly, phones present easy access to cyber bullying. Keeping phones off during school hopefully will improve focus and academic performance, as well as enhance mental health by creating an environment for better social development. It looks to be a win-win for students and teachers alike. As with any new policy, I would like to see data and hear from students to help determine whether the policy has achieved its intended goals. I would be open to amending it as necessary in the future.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the school district?

I understand the current Board is awaiting the demographer’s report to better understand how two large housing complexes currently under construction in the Southwest area of town will affect school enrollment. Depending on the outcome, the BOE will likely have to consider redistricting the borders that define which elementary school students attend.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

I think that most candidates want to serve on the BOE to do what they think is best for the schools and the community. Personally, I grew up surrounded by dedicated public school teachers. My mother and my grandmother were both public school teachers who taught me that a good education can provide opportunities that might not otherwise be available. I am the product of New Jersey public schools from kindergarten through college. I know that our schools are the backbone of our community. I believe that I have the skills and the temperament necessary to listen to students and parents and work with the administrators and other Board members to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students. Bottom line: Student success is the mission of the BOE.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

I have learned a lot during the course of this campaign. I have spent many hours listening to voters and sharing my thoughts about the future of our school district. I know that there will be some difficult times ahead as the Board navigates future budgets and rising costs. We need Board members who are skilled in reaching consensus and who don’t come to the table with preconceived “easy” answers to complex issues. As a transactional attorney, I have spent years bringing people together to achieve shared goals. If elected, I will use these same skills to make sure that our schools continue to provide the exceptional education that all of our students deserve.