Colts Neck Slate Announces Run For Four School Board Spots

COLTS NECK, NJ — Saying they want to take the majority on the Colts Neck Board of Education, the Colts Kids First candidates for school board have filed petitions with the county and are announcing the slate's candidates.

The four Colts Kids First candidates are Jason Orrico, Jessica Killick and Vincent Rugnetta for full, three-year terms, and Angelique Volpe for a two-year unexpired term, according to the team.

The candidates said in a news release they represent "conservative values, both fiscal and social."

Their filings were confirmed July 21 by a spokesperson for the Monmouth County elections office.

The filing deadline is at 4 p.m. July 31 and other candidates are expected to file for election, but no other names have been filed as of July 21 with the county.

The current seats expiring this year are currently held by Heather Tormey, now board president; Kevin O'Connor, currently vice-president; Tracey Kramer; and Andrew Rytter, who is serving the unexpired term. O'Connor confirmed by email Monday night that he does not plan to seek re-election. Another incumbent contacted did not immediately comment for the record about the upcoming campaign.

The unexpired term cam about when Matthew Fonte, another Colts Kids First candidate in 2022, won election but could not be seated because of a residency issue.

Board members John Camera and Jessica Ramirez of the Colts Kids First slate were also elected to the board in 2022, having defeated incumbents in last year's election and are currently serving on the board.

Camera said Monday it was discovered during the campaign that Fonte had not been a resident of Colts Neck for a full year, and so the board had to appoint another member of the public to fill the spot. Rytter was appointed, Camera said.

Camera, who said he collected the petitions for this year's Colts Kids First team, acknowledged the conservative-leaning slate is looking to take over a majority of the board.

According to a statement the team put out: They "have advocated for efficiencies in operations, protecting our children, and most importantly enforcing parental rights. Sadly, they have found themselves in the minority with these important issues."

The reference to "parental rights" involved a policy change the board was considering earlier this year.

An amended board policy would have required parental notice in certain instances where students identify as transgender at school.

A vote on the policy change was tabled June 28 by a majority of the board following lawsuits against other districts in the state, including Manalapan-Englishtown Regional, Middletown and Marlboro, by the state Attorney General.

Those policies are being challenged in court by the Attorney General as discriminatory, and the Colts Neck board voted 6 to 3 to table a change, given the lawsuits.

Board President Heather Tormey said after the vote the action was a way "to hit the pause button" on a policy that she noted there was no "immediate need" for. Plus, approving a policy similar to those already under fire from the state Attorney General was "not fiscally responsible," she said after the June 28 vote to table.

Camera and Ramirez, who voted against tabling the policy vote, said "we need a majority of board members who will fight for conservative values, both fiscal and social." Camera said Brenna Dillon also voted against tabling the vote.

Other members on the board whose terms are not expiring this year are Alison DeNoia, Brenna Dillon and Amy Dimes.