Defeated Newark School Board Candidate: ‘I Have the Wrong Politics’ – TAPinto.net
NEWARK, NJ – Leah Owens characterized herself as a “political outcast” in her final remarks as a school board member following her defeat in the April 16 election.
Owens’ Children Over Politics team unsuccessfully ran against the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate, which was endorsed by municipal and state politicians. The Moving Newark Schools Forward slate won in a landslide, showcasing the strength of lawmakers and groups associated with the North Ward.
“I am in fact a team player,” Owens said Tuesday at the school board reorganization meeting. “I just don’t play for the team status quo and going along to get along. I am on the team of equitable, just, accountable and quality education for every single child in Newark.
“What’s wrong about me is that I have the wrong politics in that I depart from the dominant politics.”
Owens first ran for a seat on the school board in 2016 on the Newark Unity Slate endorsed by Mayor Ras Baraka, but she did not have his support this time around. Still, she acknowledged that the school board was a place where she was able to work with those who thought differently than her.
“There is a sore lack of spaces for a radical democracy in this city, where differences can be and are discussed,” she said. “Even so, I find the school board to be a place for radical democracy. It is a space where I work with those who think differently from me and I’m a better person and citizen for it.”
Owens was the sole incumbent from her slate, which included newcomers Saafir Jenkins and Denise Cole. Owens officially earned 1,466 votes, Jenkins gained 1,223 and Cole received 1,165.
The Moving Newark Schools Forward team consisted of incumbent Tave Padilla with newcomers Shayvonne Anderson and A’Dorian Murray-Thomas. Official results released at the reorganization meeting showed that Padilla earned 4,420 votes while Anderson earned 4,542.
Murray-Thomas was the first name that appeared on the ballot. She earned the most votes out of all candidates, with 4,935. The 23-year-old is the founder of a leadership organization, SHE Wins, that works with teens.
“This is not my first rodeo with service,” said Murray Thomas after being sworn in. “I have dedicated my life and I will continue to dedicate my life to making sure that I give to the city that has given so much to me.”
Those who were thanked by the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate after being sworn in showed their deep roots with state and local lawmakers. Padilla acknowledged the mayor, the entire city council, Essex County Freeholder Wayne Richardson, the North Ward Center and state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz.
Padilla also thanked Sammy Gonzalez, his campaign manager and chairman of the North Ward Democratic Committee. Murray-Thomas also acknowledged her campaign manager, Dashay Carter, who is a former school board member once endorsed by the mayor.
Kim Gaddy’s seat on the school board was also up for election this year, but she did not run. Gaddy is also an environmental justice organizer for Clean Water Action, and she intends to still be active in the district since one of her children still goes to school here.
“I was blessed with the opportunity to be elected right before the state took over, appointed back when the state had control and then to be elected once we had local control,” Gaddy said. “So my circle is complete. I truly am blessed that I had that opportunity.”
Eleven candidates were vying for three seats on the school board this year. This election was pinned as a pivotal one during debates since the district is still wrapping up the last requirements still remaining from the state’s nearly 25-year state takeover.
The return to local control gave residents the chance to decide if they wanted the school board to be appointed by the mayor or elected by residents. Baraka previously said he wanted the school board to be elected.
Meanwhile, board member Josephine Garcia was unanimously re-appointed for chair. Other board members congratulated on her upcoming appointment to the Essex County School Board Association too.
Dawn Haynes was re-appointed by the board for vice chair too. She said was “so past us beating each other up,” and acknowledged Gaddy and Owens for their service.
“I continue to work for this great city and I continue to work for this board of education and all 55,000 of these students — even the ones in the charter schools — who still need the love and affection that we have to offer as a community because they’re still our children,” Haynes said.
Superintendent Roger Leon is also planning a reorganization for the district. He said that won’t take place until July 1. A final presentation for Leon’s Clarity 2020 strategic plan for the upcoming school year will be held on June 13.
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