Here Are The 2019 Edison Board Of Ed Candidates

EDISON, NJ — Ten candidates are running for three seats on the Edison Board of Education in the 2019 general election.

Most of the candidates are newcomers, although several have attempted runs for the Board before. Only one candidate is an incumbent. If elected, they will serve a three-year term.

Here are the candidates running for seats on the Edison Board of Education (incumbents are marked with an asterisk):

• Carol Bodofsky
• Samuel Marshall
• Xiaohan (Shannon) Peng*
• Christo Makropoulos
• Neville Arestani
• Shivi Prasad Madhukar
• Kenneth Nelson
• Sparshil Patel
• Anthony DeAmorin
• Tahira Nasood

The race is likely to become contentious, as school board races have in the past. The mystery surrounding who sent a racist flyer calling for the deportation of two then-candidates during the 2016 election has continued to be a talking point among candidates for all offices in Edison. (The two candidates targeted by the flyer, Jerry Shi and Falguni Patel, were both elected and are not up for reelection at this point.)

A main issue facing Edison schools is classroom overcrowding; many schools are nearing capacity and "modular classrooms" are being installed at several to help alleviate some crowding. The School Board is currently trying to sue the Zoning Board over a variance given to a builder allowing them to build an eight-unit home on a previously single-family lot.

School board candidates will be on the general election ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Not registered to vote? You can register here.