Schools

School Elections, the Evening: Make Your Voice Heard

Check back all day as we provide updates on the school board elections.

As the , Bridgewater Patch visited one more school, and, while it seemed that more people were finally coming out to vote after the working hours, the biggest message several voters had to send was that residents have to make their voices heard in the community.

"People have to have the pride to make a difference," said Bridgewater resident Lillian In, who voted at after the working day. "Voting makes a huge impact for the community, especially for the kids."

For In, Bridgewater is known for its school system, and residents should take the time to have their say in how it should run.

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"A good town reflects in its good education," she said. "It is our responsibility to make sure we have a good system."

For Bridgewater resident Jill Thomas, voting Wednesday was all about the school budget for the most part, and she said she hopes people are supporting it.

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"Last year was tough, but if we don't pass the budget, it goes to the township council and they cut what doesn't make sense," she said after voting at Van Holten Primary. "We want people who know about the budget to worry about cutting, not those who don't."

"Hopefully we'll have enough votes to pass the budget," she added.

Bridgewater candidate for the board of education Elizabeth Eisinger Lande said she has not heard much sentiment about the budget over the last few weeks, particularly as compared to last year's contentious budget.

"People have asked questions at the budget presentations," she said. "And people are slightly more aware than they were years ago."

But Bridgewater resident Kevin Karpel said he came out to Van Holten Primary to vote just so he could vote the budget down.

"The taxes affect my family, and I don't want extra money on my taxes," he said, adding that he sends his children to a private school so they are not part of the district.

Despite his vote, Karpel said he imagine the budget will pass with a large percentage of teachers voting.

"I would think it would because a lot of teachers may be voting," he said.

But no matter what, Karpel said, he does believe everyone should vote.

"Everyone has the right to vote, so you should exercise that right," he said. "But the parking lot is not as filled as it was last year."

And unfortunately, Karpel said, the vote was on an odd day, so there is a chance some people forgot to participate.

Lande said that from what she saw at Van Holten Primary, the turnout seemed a little low. And, she said, moving the elections could alleviate that in the future.

"I think having this election at a different time and not with the national elections makes for lower turnout," she said. "And everyone probably thought it was yesterday [on Tuesday]."

"If you don't have a kid in the schools, you really have to be clued in to know about the elections," she added.

Lande said she wishes there was a better way to reach all the residents in town to inform them about the elections and everything that is at stake.

"We have a right as citizens to vote, and it's very important and a basic way to be involved in the schools," she said. "But a lot of local people think this is just the schools, not the citizens as a whole. And the elections are nonpartisan, so none of the political parties are sending out information."

Raritan candidate for the board of education Ann Marie Mead said she believes people understand the budget and are in tune with what is going on in the schools for the most part, particularly in Raritan.

But the biggest problem, Mead said, is that people are not aware of the elections themselves.

"I think if we change the time of the elections, that would help," she said after voting herself at Raritan Borough Hall. "If you have children in the schools you are well aware, but maybe there could be more advertising for those who don't."

"November is better advertised, and, with that, we are promoting all the elections," she added.

No matter what the opinions, all agreed that the most important thing is to make your voice heard.

"I think the right to vote is something you can't take for granted," Mead said. "We are very lucky that we have the right to vote, and we have to appreciate that right and get out there."

Check back throughout the day as Bridgewater Patch continues traveling to different polling locations to speak with voters, and keep it here this evening, and follow us on Twitter at #BWaterPatch, for live updates on the election results.


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