Edison BOE President Will Not Seek Reelection

EDISON, NJ – Edison Board of Education President Biral Patel announced he will not seek reelection for another full three-year term.

The decision to drop out of the race came during the weekend. Patel served the BOE for four years. He was first appointed in January 2021 and elected for a full three-year term in November 2021.

According to Patel, the financial demands of running the race made him decide to drop out.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Edison Board of Education. Volunteering for various causes has been a significant part of my life for many years, including my current service as a Board President and Board Member for the past four years. Helping others is a core belief of mine, encapsulated in the saying "In the Joy of others, lies our own",” Patel said. “Despite my dedication to doing good and helping people, navigating the financial demands of running for election this year is not feasible for me. Therefore, I will take a break from the Board of Education Election at this time but will continue to contribute to the community and support various causes.”

Patel has over two decades in volunteering and community service and has received recognition from Edison Township for his volunteer work.

After his appointment to the BOE, Patel worked with BOE and Council members to secure vaccination appointments for educators and staff members and formed a volunteer group to secure vaccination appointments for 1400 Edison residents.

He also helped residents in and around Edison to gain access to food, medications, and PPE.

Patel holds a Master's Degree in Computer Science with over 30 professional certifications and works at a Global Fortune 500 Organization in Information Technology.

He has also coached several individuals with Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations courses and participated as an active member of Discover Engineering, IBM's program for Science and Engineering Education for students in New Jersey Middle School.

Patel is a former member of the Edison Township Zoning Board and Water Utility Advisory Committee. He is active in several large and small non-profit community organizations including the Board of Trustees of ‘The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park’ – Edison Tower.

Despite dropping out of the race, Patel said he is open to helping anyone and will continue with his volunteer work.

“It is encouraging to see many candidates running, reflecting the dedication of the residents who want to make a positive difference for our students, parents, staff and taxpayers,” Patel said.

“For those who know me, I am always reachable and available to try to help them in any way I can. I am proud of the work we have accomplished together. While I will not seek reelection at this point, my commitment to serving Edison remains as strong as ever.”

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