A Few Newcomers Lead School Board Primaries With Highest Votes

A few newcomers led the primary elections with the highest votes on May 17.

There were on the board. Though each candidate cross-filed in Tuesday's primary elections, five were put up by the Republican Committee–Jamie Mariano, Sherry-Lee McAuliffe, Fred Dewey, Richard Sokorai and Robert Sack–while the democrats put their own candidates on the ballot which included Genevieve Fox, Hector Lopez and Matthew Stepanic.

Mariano, a republican candidate, came out on top in the primary school board elections Tuesday with a strong 3,114 (2,668 republican votes, 446 democrat votes) total votes counted towards her.

Mariano was followed by another newcomer to the school board and republican candidate McAuliffe, who received a total 2,923 votes (2,468 republican votes, 455 democrat votes).

Incumbent school board member Dewey followed suit with 2,552 votes (2,325 republican votes, 227 democrat votes). Dewey stated earlier in his platform that he took pride in "maintaining low taxes in this difficult economic environment while refurbishing our high school."

Incumbent and school board Vice President Richard Sokorai came in with 2,567 total votes (2,261 republican votes, 306 democrat votes). Sokorai spoke to Patch on the night of the elections how he felt about having new members on the board.

"I've met all of them before and I don't think there will be much of a change," said Sokorai. "We had a good vibe leaving–and we're going to miss all of them, they were tremendous hard workers and good people–but there's going to be new energy on the board."

Sack rounded up the GOP candidates list with a total 2,168 votes (1,847 republican votes, 321 democrat votes).

Three democratic newcomers also received their win for the democratic ballot this fall. Genevieve Fox led the democrats with a total of 1,370 votes in the district. She led the candidates in receiving the highest amount of votes from the democratic party with 565 democrat votes and 805 republican votes, also the highest votes received from the republicans in comparison to her running mates.

Although she was unsure of how she would do in the primary elections, Fox said Tuesday afternoon, as she handed out her campaign material to voters, "it's still an experience." And whether she wins a seat on the school board in the fall, Fox said she will still be involved in the district.

"Appointment or no appointment, I'll still be here meeting people and being involved with getting better support for special-needs students in the district," said Fox.

Fox was followed by running mates Stepanic with 1,121 total votes in the district (658 republican votes, 463 democrat votes) and Lopez with 974 total votes (502 republican votes, 472 democrat votes).

All candidates will appear on the ballots this fall to vie for five seats on the board. Receiving the highest votes in the primary elections, Mariano and McAuliffe will also appear on the democratic ballot in the general elections.

Editor's note: Results do not include absentee, provisional, or remote military votes.