BOE Candidate Profile: Rob Oden

profiling the  in this year's  continues. Follow the story thread for previous .

• Candidate name: Jarrell “Rob” Oden
• Age: 43
• Address: 5 Herkimer Court
• Occupation: Operations director in the newspaper industry
• Marital status: Married, two children 

Oden is one of three challengers running against the slate of three incumbents in this year’s Board of Education race, sharing a ticket with Alice Olker and Shannon Sarno.

Together, the trio has three major priorities, said Oden.

“Our common ground is putting the children first, taxpayers second and township third,” he said.

While Oden hasn’t held public office before, he said he was motivated to get involved because he’s both a dad and a taxpayer. 

“With two kids in the school system, I have kind of stake in the game here,” he said. “I felt I could bring to the table the perspective of a parent.”

His children are now in high school, he said, but “it’s also a concern to make sure the schools continue to provide a quality education for the kids coming up.”

Taxes are Oden’s other major concern.

“We moved here to Barnegat four years ago, and our taxes keep going up significantly each and every year,” he said. 

Oden said he didn’t want to criticize current Board members for the job they’re doing. He hasn’t yet stood in their position, he said – though he does want that chance.

“I’d like to stay positive,” he said, and focus on striking a balance between the goals of “quality education for the kids and a safe environment, and doing everything I can to at least reduce or keep the taxes the way that they are. Those are the two things that have caused me to get involved.”