Save Holmdel Schools Slate Maintains Lead In BOE Election

HOLMDEL, NJ — Updated vote totals in the Holmdel Board of Education race show the Save Holmdel Schools slate has maintained its lead. Candidates Chris DiMare, Jeff Mann and John Buckley make up the slate.

DiMare is still awaiting the official declaration, but he said that if the results stand, "we are ecstatic about this opportunity to work together on behalf of Holmdel parents and their children."

He thanked all the candidates who participated and the residents who voted.

He said the new board members "look forward to collaborating with our peers on the board, administration and staff in creating the most positive educational experience for Holmdel students."

The only incumbent seeking election this year was the current board president, Elizabeth Urbanski, who was not re-elected.

Meanwhile, it was back to business Friday for Mat Weisfeld, a high-end audio manufacturer, who said he accepts his slate's loss in the Holmdel Board of Education race.

"I don't know if you call this conceding or whatever, but the election is behind me," Weisfeld said philosophically.

He and candidates Joanne Lam and Alicia Unusan made up the Education First slate.

Weisfeld said Tuesday the team was waiting for mail-in votes to be tallied, but results have not significantly changed. The county has not yet announced the results of the election are official since mail-in ballots can be received six days after the election and be counted.

Eight candidates filed to run for three spots on the Board of Education and several candidates identified as slates, emphasizing different issues.

Save Holmdel Schools was particularly critical of the state-mandated health education curriculum that included certain sex education elements.

Education First emphasized creating a more challenging academic structure, among other initiatives.

Incumbent Urbanski sought re-election, but did not identify with a slate. Deborah Wilson, an educator in Freehold Township was running individually on a motto of School Community Advocacy.

School security and fiscal transparency were themes among many of the candidates.

Here are the updated vote totals as of Friday:

• Deborah Wilson, School Community Advocacy - 813
• Elizabeth Urbanski - 834
• Chris DiMare, Save Holmdel Schools - 2,855
• Jeff D. Mann, Save Holmdel Schools - 2,629
• John Buckley, Save Holmdel Schools - 2,670
• Joanne Lam, Education First - 2,511
• Alicia Unusan, Education First - 2,297
• Mathew Weisfeld, Education First - 2,451