Election 2024: Wayne School Board Candidate Wilson Alequin

WAYNE, NJ — In the 2024 general election, Wayne residents will be voting in the presidential race and for their representatives in Washington, as well as for local school board seats and some Passaic County offices.

Patch has asked local candidates in contested races to answer some questions about their campaigns, which we've included below.

As a quick note, early voting begins on Saturday, Oct. 26, and the general election is on Tuesday, Nov 5.

Here is the candidate profile of Wilson Alequin, candidate for the Wayne Township Schools Board of Education.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out the same questions to all candidates, using the email addresses listed for their campaign on the county clerk’s office. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 5 general election; any questions that the candidate did not answer will be left out. Local candidates who would like to participate but did not receive an email (for whatever reason) can contact Michelle.Rotuno-Johnson@patch.com.

Name: Wilson Alequin

Town of residence: Wayne

Occupation: I have been a public servant working in law enforcement for the past 17 years. Currently, I am a Detective-Lieutenant in my agency's Internal Affairs Unit.

Candidate website or social media page: Wilson Alequin for Wayne Board of Education

What inspired you to seek public office?

I have always had a passion for public service as you can see with my career choice. However, public office is different and something I never thought I would have gotten involved with. With that said, I believe my life experience would be an asset to the Wayne BOE due to my ability to represent different groups in the community and ensure that everyone has a voice in the districts educational and administrative decisions. I have two children who will be in the Wayne school system for the next decade, so I also have a personal interest in helping preserve and improve the quality of our schools.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

To be honest, I can’t state what sets me apart from the other candidates. From what I’ve heard, they are all hardworking professionals who have good intentions for the school district. But I am focused on my candidacy and educating myself on all the issues surrounding the school district (both good and bad). One thing I can state is that I promise you I am in this for no other reason than to act in what is in the best interest of the students, parents, staff, and members of the community. I have made a career out of being a person who gets things done and works well with a team. This is what I can bring to the board.

In recent meetings, some Wayne residents and board members have expressed worry about how recent developments and housing projects in town will affect traffic and put a strain on resources. What is your stance on ongoing development projects, and what do you say to residents who believe it will cause overcrowding/traffic?

The upcoming housing in town is going to have an impact on the class sizes in the schools. There is no denying this. The board must act now and not wait until these units are completed. By then, it’ll be too late (if it isn’t already). The recent referendum failed, but I believe a new re-worked one can be successful. This time however, it must be a joint effort between the community, school administration, board of education, city council, and the mayor. The reality is these funds are needed to be able to make any meaningful changes.

In the meantime, we should look into some portable classrooms to help alleviate some of the overcrowding in these classrooms and continue applying for every single grant we possibly could. We need to continue being fiscally responsible with the funds we do have and doing the best we can until funding assistance arrives.

Name one thing about Wayne that always makes you smile.

Wayne is a great community. Just turn off the tv, log off social media, and walk around your neighborhood and you will see all the reasons why. Every time my family and I go for a walk or take my kids for a bike ride around the neighborhood, we are met with nothing but waves and smiles from others doing the same. It is a great community driven town that I hope it finds a way to remain one.

Finally, do you want to tell voters anything else about you, or your goals for this position?

If I talk about all the goals I wish to accomplish with a seat on the board, you would be here reading for a very long time. I’m an ambitious person. So, I’ll narrow it down to 5 of my goals.

1. Education – High quality education for all students and making sure our Special Education programs receive everything they need to be successful.
2. Mental Health – Annual mental health awareness training for all teachers and staff to help them identify the signs of a struggling child early on.
3. Parental Involvement – Studies show that more parental involvement leads to improved academic outcomes. It also results in better communication between the parents and the schools.
4. Athletics/Fine Arts/Clubs – These programs are crucial to the development and growth of our children. They must be well funded and given every opportunity to succeed.
5. Budget – Ensure we are being fiscally responsible for all taxpayers within the community. Work with the town and the residents to help pass a referendum that the community can get behind and support.

I wanted to end with letting all of you know that I believe I could bring new ideas and a fresh mindset to the Wayne Board of Education. The way forward in helping our school system is making sure that the board has committed people with different perspectives on it. This is how we accomplish great things in a superb school district like Wayne. Thank you and I hope you can trust me with your vote this November 5th.

More info on election deadlines and early voting

For new voters, New Jersey’s deadline to register for the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 15. This is also the deadline for people who need to update their registration to change their name or their address on their voter record.

In-person early voting for the general election will be Oct. 26 through Nov. 3. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.

The Wayne location for early voting is Wayne Main Library, at 461 Valley Road. Or, you can vote early elsewhere in Passaic County.

If you are already registered to vote and want to check your registration status or see where your polling place is, you can do so online.

Any New Jersey voter may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the application by Oct. 29, and returning it to their county clerk's office.

Then, they may return their ballot by mail, in a secure ballot drop box, or at the county Board of Elections office.

New Jersey voters will also select a U.S. Senator to replace Democrat Bob Menendez, who resigned from office after being convicted in a high-profile bribery trial. All of the state's seats in the House of Representatives are also on the ballot, and you can look up which district you live in here.

Related articles:

• See Early Voting, Candidate Info For Election Day 2024 In Wayne Twp.
• Wayne School Board Elections 2024: See The List Of Candidates