Let The Campaigns Begin

A large group of candidates signed up to run for the four open spots on the Board of Education today. 

There are four open spots on the board, and 14 people signed up, divided into factions "Kids First," "Old Hoboken" and "Real Results."

Here is the breakdown, coming from Kids First campaign manager Liz Mulholland.

Kids First: Rose Marie Markle (currently the board's president), Leon Gold, Irene Korman Sobolov (who was appointed to the board recently) and—for the one-year term—Jean Marie Mitchell. 

Kids First is holding a kick off event at Maxwell's on Sunday March 7, according to an e-mail from Mulholland.

Two members of Kids First on the current board—Carrie Gilliard and Maureen Sullivan—recently disassociated themselves from the coalition, after they didn't agree with the hiring of new superintendent Frank Romano.

Real Results: Elizabeth Markevitch, Kathleen Tucker, Perry Lin, John Forsman (1 year term).

Former mayoral candidate Nathan Brinkman supports this group.

A press release about this group stated that "Real results promises quick and effective action to improve Hoboken's schools and get the system's bloated budget under control." 

The members of Real Results all supported Kids First during the last elections.

Other candidates: Frank Raia (business owner and former mayoral candidate), Kyelia Colon, Patricia Waiters and Ken Howitt (1 year term).

I want to help make this upcoming decision an educated and informed one for Hoboken," said Howitt. "That is the lowest level at which the bar should be set. I am hoping to do much better than that."

Independent: John Madigan

Elections will take place on April 20.