Stafford Board of Education Election Results For 2020

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A crowded field is running for several positions on the Stafford Township Board of Education. See the latest results as they come in.

Here are the candidates running for three, three-year terms (last updated at 12:03 a.m.)

21 of 21 districts reporting

Christopher Fritz: 6,362
Deborah M. Lyons: 5,673
Gerald Simonelli: 4,265
James Curcio: 3,332
Patricia Formica: 4,581
Gregory Guido: 2,904
Kenneth Budinski: 1,891
write-in: 101

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Erin Sharkey is running unopposed for a one-year term. She has campaigned on the "Community Together Wins" ticket with Fritz, Lyons and Simonelli.

Lyons and Simonelli currently serve on the board.

"My plan is to return the district to normalcy as fast as I can," Lyons told Patch. "My heart breaks for the special education population as well as our underprivileged population."

Curcio, Formica and Guido are running together on the "Accountability and Transparency" ticket. Budinski is running independently.

Formica currently serves on the board. Curcio and Guido are both seeking a board seat for the first time, but Guido was recently appointed as an alternate on the Stafford Township Planning Board.

"We believe in accountability and transparency," they said in a joint statement to Patch. "We believe in asking questions. We believe school boards exist to represent students, taxpayers and residents and to work in conjunction with administrations to achieve the best education for the students."

Stafford was one of the only school districts in the area to begin the year allowing students to physically attend school five days per week. Families could also choose hybrid or remote learning.

Since the change to this year's election was announced by Gov. Phil Murphy because of the coronavirus, there have been many questions about how the process will work.

Every the ballot sent through the mail had to be postmarked by Nov. 3. It must be received by your county's election boards by 8 p.m. on Nov. 10.

"Every vote should be safe. Every vote should be secure. Every vote should be counted," Murphy said of the process.

For full coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here: New Jersey Elections 2020

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