Newark School Board Election 2021: See Unofficial Results – Patch.com
NEWARK, NJ — The Moving Newark Schools Forward slate is claiming a victory for its four candidates in the 2021 Newark Board of Education election, although official results are still pending.
On Tuesday, Newark voters went to the polls to choose three new members of the Newark school board. Terms last for three years. Candidates included Nadirah Brown, Dawn Haynes, Yolanda Johnson, Asia Norton, Vereliz Santana and Phillip Wilson.
As of Tuesday evening, the vote tallies showed a wide lead for Haynes, Norton and Santana, each a member of the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate. With 76 of 93 districts reported, here are the totals according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:
- Nadirah Brown – 425
- Dawn Haynes – 2,590
- Yolanda Johnson – 488
- Asia Norton – 2,440
- Vereliz Santana – 2,349
- Phillip Wilson – 362
Voters also cast ballots in a special election for a fourth seat, which was called for after board member Tave Padilla died in November 2020. Candidates for that race included Sheila Montague and Daniel Gonzalez.
As of Tuesday evening, the vote tally showed a lead for Gonzalez, a member of the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate. With 76 of 93 districts reported, here are the totals according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:
- Daniel Gonzalez – 1,839
- Sheila Montague – 965
In addition to the seats on the board, Newark voters were asked to approve or reject the public school district’s budget for the next year. With 76 of 93 districts reported, here are the totals according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:
- Yes – 2,299
- No – 207
Although the results are still unofficial, the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate claimed a victory in a social media post on Tuesday night:
“Our victory tonight represents the strength of our coalition that brings together different viewpoints and perspectives for one purpose — to serve our children … We also want to thank all the candidates who ran in today’s election. Each candidate brought something to the table. Now that the election is over, it is our hope that we can all come together and continue to keep our focus on educating the children of Newark.”
The slate saw endorsements from several elected officials in the area prior to Tuesday’s election, including Mayor Ras Baraka, North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, Chief of Staff Amiri Baraka and state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, who represents Newark and Belleville.
Ruiz offered a post-election message of support on Wednesday, writing:
“Congratulations to the Moving Newark Schools Forward team who all have demonstrated commitment and dedication to public service outside of their elected roles. And of course, to Vereliz Santana, who is part of my immediate team, a huge abrazo! These next few years will be challenging but if we stay focused on supporting our families, teachers and students we will continue to move our schools and city forward.”
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