Election 2020: 13 Candidates Vie For 3 Seats In Edison BoE

EDISON, NJ — The November election is just around the corner, and this year voters have more than one way to cast their ballot and more time to make their choice.

If you haven’t sent in your mail-in ballot or plan to head to the polling station on Nov.3, here’s a guide to who’s running for a seat on the Edison Township Board of Education.

This year is a competitive one with 13 candidates vying for three seats. Candidates include Brett Baker, Anthony DePasquale, Ernest Kregeloh, Padmaja Chinta, Christo Makropoulos, Yash Pandya, Mohin K. Patel, Sparshil Patel, Clifton Prescod, Brian Rivera, Maria Wise, Jerry Shi and Virginia R. White.

Incumbent Jerry Shi is running with Mohin Patel and Virginia White on Edison First slate.

Shi said during his tenure he led the charge on vendor reforms and the Board was able to save millions of dollars by cutting down a bloated budget. He also takes credit for reducing wasteful spending and introducing new programs to the school district.

White, who has been an Edison resident for years, says her children attending public schools give her an insight into what needs to be done to improve schools.

Patel is an active community member who has organized mental health seminars for children, summer sports and educational youth camps.

The group wants to further reduce wasteful spending and make sure teaching is efficient and engaging.

Read more about Shi, White and Patel’s platform here: Edison Board Of Education Profiles: Shi, White, Patel

Yash Pandya, 25, is this year's youngest candidate. A recent graduate of the town's public school system, Pandya believes he has a lot to contribute. Pandya wants to ensure the Board of Education also takes into consideration suggestions from students when making important decisions. If elected, he wishes to bring student input to the forefront.

Read more about Pandya’s platform for the upcoming elections.

Padmaja Chinta, a lawyer, wants to improve the effectiveness of remote learning and teaching module in the school district. She believes that Edison schools are better than a lot of other schools, but there are many areas that need improvement. If elected, she wants to be an independent voice on the Board, who will involve everyone in decision-making.

Read more about Chinta’s platform here: Candidate Profile: Padmaja Chinta For Edison Board Of Education

Ernest Kregeloh is a lifelong Edison resident who studied in the town’s public school, and is now a teacher for 22 years. Although he has never held public office before, Kregeloh says his involvement with the school system, makes him suitable for the job. “I have spent countless hours in the classroom, on athletic fields and riding on school busses. The critical difference between myself and the other candidates, is my experience working in education,” he told Patch.

Read more about Kregeloh’s platform for the upcoming election on Nov. 4 here: Candidate Profile: Ernest Kregeloh For Edison Board Of Education

Clifton Prescod is a product of the Edison school system. If elected, he wants to concentrate on making the virtual learning system better so that teachers and students are not hindered by "communication and limited interaction."

Read more about his platform here: Candidate Profile: Clifton Prescod For Edison Board Of Education

In anticipation of the upcoming election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns. Candidates who answered the questions have had their profiles published on Patch.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

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