Tate Wins Howell School Board Seat As Gurman Ousted

HOWELL, NJ — The Howell Township Board of Education will have a new face next year, after newcomer Joseph Tate joined incumbents Cristy Mangano and Mark Bonjavanni as the three top vote-getters in Tuesday's election.

According to unofficial tallies, Tate received the third-highest total, 4,046, more than 1,000 votes ahead of incumbent board member Laurence Gurman.

Voters also appear to have turned down the Freehold Regional High School District's proposals to bond for $42 million for security upgrades at the district's six high schools. As of 11 p.m., there was an 800-vote margin with the no votes leading the yes votes on Question 1, which had to pass for either of the others to move forward, was the closest gap. Question 1 included security upgrades at all six high schools; Question 2 would have addressed STEM classrooms and bleachers and Question 3 would have refurbished the 96-year-old auditorium at Freehold Borough High School and added turf fields at three high schools.

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Here are the unofficial vote totals.

HOWELL Board of Education — three, three-year terms (As of 9:50 p.m., with 32 of 32 districts reporting)

Joseph Tate — 4,046
Mark A. Bonjavanni — 4,917
Cristy Mangano — 4,993
Laurence Gurman — 2,933

FREEHOLD REGIONAL BOND PROPOSALS (With 130 of 130 districts reporting)

Question 1
Yes — 15,759
No — 15,557

Question 2
Yes — 15,704
No — 17,041

Question 3
Yes — 14,576
No — 17,235

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