Meet Long Branch BOE President Violeta Peters, Seeks Re-Election

LONG BRANCH, NJ — This year, eight people are running for Long Branch Board of Education, and voters will be asked to choose four. Patch asked all eight candidates the same set of questions, and this week we will be publishing the candidates who got back to us.

Peters is allied with Long Branch school board vice president Joseph Ferraina, board member Raymond Garland and Dominic Sama.

Provide a brief bio on yourself. Age, education, occupation.

I am Violeta Peters, candidate for the Long Branch Board of Education, seeking a three-year term. I was born in Puerto Rico in 1947. I graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University as a registered nurse with a BA and master's degree. I am the retired CEO of AcuteCare Health System, Specialty Hospital of Central Jersey in Lakewood, NJ.

Do you have children in the district or formerly in the district?

I have two adult sons who attended and graduated from Long Branch public schools.

What experience do you have that would make you a good BOE member?

I have over 20 years of experience as a Long Branch Board of Education member (Editor's note: she is currently president of the Long Branch school board), and 50+ years in healthcare.

For current school board members, what is some of the work you're proudest of that the Board has done?

The Long Branch High School graduation rate is at its highest rate of 95 percent. Also, although we had a major cut in state funding this year, we produced a balanced budget and maintained programs and staff.

Where do you think the Board needs to improve? This is for both current BOE members and those not on the Board.

Our Board needs to have regular communication with the community, inviting input and feedback.

Looking ahead, what are some of the biggest challenges facing the Long Branch school district in the next 2 -5 years, and how do you plan to confront them?

I feel the biggest challenge we will face is the budget, to maintain our present scholastic and safety standards as our community grows.

Voters will be asked to choose three for a three-year term:

• Julio A. Rivas
• Michael Zimmermann
• Jon R. Zimmerman
• Violeta Peters - current Board president, seeks re-election
• Raymond Garland
• Joseph M. Ferraina - current Board vice president, seeks re-election

There is also a one-year term, voters will be asked to choose one:

• Dominic Sama, Moving Forward Together
• Jason DeSantis

The election is Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at the Long Branch campus of Brookdale Community College 213 Broadway, second floor, Long Branch, NJ 07740, from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary, according to the state of NJ Division of Elections. And there is also mail-in voting.

Who else got back to us:

Meet Long Branch BOE Vice President Joseph Ferraina, Seeks Re-Election