Brick School Board 2019: John Barton

BRICK, NJ — As Election Day 2019 nears, Patch is sharing profiles of the candidates for local office.

The Brick Township Board of Education has two, three-year terms on the ballot for 2019. Six candidates are vying for the two seats, which are unpaid, volunteer positions. Those candidates are Joseph Aulisi Jr., John Barton, Cassidy Busa, Robert Canfield, Melita Gagliardi and Daisy Haffner.

Patch asked each candidate the same questions. Here are John Barton's answers.

Name: John Barton

Age: 62

Employment: School teacher for 33 years, in the Jackson Township schools.

Tell us about your public service (township boards, committees you sit on): School Facilities Committee, School Negotiations, School Curriculum Committee, School Technology Committee, Town Recreation Committee.

Any previous elected office (council, school board, etc)? How many years have you served? Past member, Brick Township Board of Education. Served a three-year term from 2014-2017.

What conflicts would you have (what won't you be able to vote on) if elected? I would not be able to vote on things that the school system does not desperately need.

Tell us about the most important thing you do that has nothing to do with politics or your employment: I live, life, every day to inspire and I face the toughest challenges that life has to offer without complaining about them. I turn negatives into positives and I do not pass judgement about situations. I listen and I work to be the better person to help others whenever I can.

What will you do if you are elected to the school board? I would continue where I left off as a county representative to the New Jersey School Boards Association. I would work to stabilize the school’s budget in the midst of the crisis created when the state cut an already approved school budget to lower aid to our district. Mostly I will listen to the community to hear what the perception is of the schools and to help educate the public to what reality is for Brick Public Schools.

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