Election Day Nears For Hoboken School Board: Who’s Running?

HOBOKEN, NJ — A field of five candidates will duke it out Tuesday in the general election for three available seats on the Hoboken Board of Education.

The terms of current school board members Sheillah Dallara, Alex De La Torre and Jennifer Evans are expiring. All of the incumbents are running for reelection except for Evans; three new challengers will join them on the ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Residents of the Mile Square City will also vote for city council seats and two public questions. See the full Patch Hoboken 2019 Election Guide.

The school board candidates running for election are:

• Sheillah Dallara
• Alex De La Torre
• Shweta Gursahani
• Joyce Simons
• Patricia Waiters

3-4-5 GAINS SUPPORT OF MAYOR

De La Torre, Simons and Dallara are running together on the “3-4-5” slate, which has gained the endorsement of Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

“Our district schools have experienced incredible growth through exciting and innovative programs and solid leadership – improving in every metric – over the last few years,” Bhalla said in support of De La Torre, Simons and Dallara. (Read his full endorsement)

“I can personally attest to the fact that these three candidates have put in the work and are poised to continue to progress for our schools,” Bhalla said.

Learn more about the 3-4-5 slate and their platform.

AN INDEPENDENT IN HOBOKEN

Shweta Gursahani, who has two children who attend public school in Hoboken, has said she believes collaboration between the schools is one of the keys to future success as the district copes with rapid growth and a pressing need for more space.

Gursahani has formed an alliance with Ron Bautista, a candidate for city council in the 3rd Ward.

Mayor Bhalla also offered a statement of support for Gursahani, writing that she “shares a passion for improving our schools,” and that her campaign has “raised issues that are important to the future success of our district.”

• See related article: Independent Candidates In Hoboken Forge Alliance

FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE CANDIDATE

Patricia Waiters, a member of the Democratic Party, is a former candidate for Hudson County executive. She lost the primary on June 4, but garnered 2,942 votes.

Waiters has previously competed for a seat on the Hoboken Board of Education, running with the slogan “Education Before Politics” in 2018.

JENNIFER EVANS: HIGHEST VOTE-GETTER IN 2016

Current school board member Jennifer Evans captured the most votes of any candidate in 2016. During that election, Evans ran as part of the “Forward Together” slate backed by former mayor Dawn Zimmer, which also included Dallara and Irene Sobolov, who resigned from her post in 2018.

Evans withdrew from the race after filing a petition with the Hudson County Clerk's office earlier this year.

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