Chester School Board Candidates: Contested Election Ahead

CHESTER, NJ — The Chester Board of Education will have a contested election this fall. Eight candidates filed to run in total for three available, three-year seats.

The candidates are for these seats are:

• Sara Kalashian
• Thomas G. Murphy
• Sarah Schultz
• John Barounis
• Simone Campbell
• Dana Levens
• Carolina Rodriguez
• Matthew R. Downs

Kalashian is the lone incumbent who has put her hat back into the ring for the seat, according to the Board of Education’s current roster.

For the West Morris Regional Board of Education, incumbent Don Storms - the representative for Chester Borough - is running an uncontested race for a three-year-term. Michael J. Golabek filed to run and is an uncontested candidate for a one-year unexpired term as the representative for Chester Township. Golabek is not currently on the roster for West Morris Regional’s board.

The contested school board race adds another layer to the upcoming General Election in Chester.
In Chester Borough, both Republican incumbents ran unopposed and there were no Democratic petitions filed in either the township or borough.

The Republican primary was contested in Chester Township. As part of it, incumbent Tim Drag and newcomer John Butkus prevailed over another candidate Thomas A. Grego. However, incumbent Councilman Brian Curley plans to jump back into the General Election as an independent in November.

RELATED: Drag, Butkus Prevail In Chester Township Republican Primary

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.