Election 2020: Parsippany School Board Candidate Nilesh Bagdai

NEW JERSEY - In a few short weeks what is expected to be one of the most charged elections in modern history is set to take place and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the Nov. 3 election.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the county clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the general election. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Russ.Crespolini@patch.com. What you see below are their answers with mild style edits.

Name: Nilesh Bagdai

1. Why are you running for the board of education seat?

United States is a land of Immigrants and people come here for the big American Dream. This country has given me the opportunity to succeed and I strongly believe, is the right time for me to give back to this country and society in general, Education is something very dear to me. Personally, I have been in the field of education having served as a visiting faculty in University of Mumbai for 5 yrs. I Strongly believe I will be an asset to the Board of Education Also, being a Parent to student of school system, I can bring in parents’ perspectives and concerns to the table

2. What makes you qualified for the position?

I have an MBA degree with a major in Finance. Professionally, I am a banker and have worked with HSBC and First National Bank of Omaha in the credit card processing division as head of Finance. Since 2016, I manage my Own Venture Direct Pay which is a registered credit card processor, in all states across the US. Being the head of my company, between my staff and my customers a big part of my work is to find optimal solutions and strike a balance between two. This is what keeps me passionate about my work. I work on these problems on a daily basis and come up with the best solution. This experience makes me a team player which I believe is one of the qualities to look for in any candidate for the Board of Education.

3. What is the most pressing issue facing the school district and what will you do about it?

There are 3 key areas I would Like to work,
1) Budget – Challenges faced because of Covid 19 the Technology cost will rise exponentially and needs a different approach,
2) Communications - I strongly feel that the various executive branches of the town could work more harmoniously with better communication and would like to assist towards that.
3) Safety - Post COVID -19, in “the new normal”. we have an uphill task to keep our kids, our staff and our schools safe and secure

4. What are some other issues you want to see addressed?

Post Covid - 19, the Key issues I would like to focus are Safety, making the taxes paid by people to make it work in the right perspective and better communications amongst various executive branches of the town

5. What do you hope to be your overall impact on the BOE if you are elected?

I hear this phrase “because that’s how it’s always been done” all the time in my line of business, and I challenge it every time, because it’s not enough to simply do what we’ve always been doing...it may be time for a change, big or small. I promise to look at each issue with a fresh perspective.

Since the change to this year's election was announced by Murphy, there have been many questions about how the process will work. Below is some further reading on the Nov. 3 election process:

• Here's How NJ's Mail-In General Election Will Work: What To Know

A primarily vote-by-mail election means a lot of changes to election day. See what you can expect this November.

• What's A NJ Provisional Ballot? How Does It Work? Patch Found Out

Those not needing an ADA compliant booth will need a provisional ballot to vote in-person. Here is what that will look like.

• Do Mail-In Ballots Force NJ Voters To Lie? Here's The Answer

There was language on the primary ballots asked voters certify they requested the ballot, even if they didn't.

• How Are Election Signatures Verified In NJ? Patch Found Out

Voters wondering how their signatures are checked before the upcoming election can see the process for themselves.

• How To Register, Track Your General Election Vote Online In NJ

Need to register for the upcoming election? Want to track your vote once you do? Read on to learn how.

• Key 2020 Voting Deadlines In New Jersey

Here is a recap of important dates to remember with upcoming election, all in one place.

• NJ: Get A Wrong Or Duplicate Ballot? It Is Probably Your Fault

Confusion and concern has reigned as ballots arrive, here Patch got some answers from a county clerk.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com
Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.