Lauren Beckman: Bernards Twp. BOE Candidate Profile

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — There is a contested race for the Bernards Township Board of Education election this upcoming November election with five candidates vying for the three open seats.

Lauren Beckman is one of five candidates running for the three, three-year seats in the election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The other four candidates include: Suzanne Schafer Skalski, Stephanus "Iwan" Juwana, Ruchika S. Hira, and Karen Gray.

Here is a look at who Beckman is and why she is running. Candidates were asked to answer the same questions and each candidate profile will be posted on Patch's site as it gets closer to the election.

Lauren Beckman

Describe yourself:

I graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. I spent the next 20 years working in Silicon Valley mostly at high tech companies as a manufacturing engineer, a management consultant and a program/project manager. My husband and I have four children ages 20, 18, 16, and 16. When a job transition landed us in New Jersey in 2011, we chose Basking Ridge because of the excellent school system.

Why are you running for school board?

I would love the opportunity to be part of a group that is contributing to and supporting positive change for our education system.

Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?

I respect rules and processes. I am an excellent project manager, both in my career and my personal life. I have always been the go-to person and the problem solver. I have a lot of patience. I can prioritize and am organized. I am very diplomatic— I can see both sides of an issue, but I am not afraid of taking a stand.

What are some issues you would like to address if elected?

• Vaping, Drugs, Alcohol
• Student Stress
• School Expansion
• Busing/Traffic

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the election profile, email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

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