Lacey School Board: Downing, McAvoy, Scanlon Win Unofficial Tally

LACEY, NJ — The results are in. The projected winners of the Lacey school board election are Linda A. Downing, Donna McAvoy and Edward Scanlon.

All winners are unofficial until results are confirmed by the election clerk. Projected winners are marked in bold.

As the results stand, McAvoy and Scanlon will be new members on the board. Board President Shawn Giordano fell 65 votes short of reelection.

Arguably the biggest issue for this election is how the district should handle state budget cuts. The district is set to lose over $4 million over a six-year period.

Giordano campaigned with Board Members Downing and Harold "Skip" Peters, Jr., as well as McAvoy. Peters ran unopposed for a two-year position.

Sonia Marchitello, Gavin C. Rozzi and Salvatore Armato campaigned together but fell short, as did candidate Ashley Larsen.

Here is the unofficial tally for three-year school board terms (three positions available):

• Linda A. Downing: 2,145
• Donna McAvoy: 1,982
• Edward Scanlon: 1,973
• Shawn Giordano: 1,908
• Salvatore Armato: 1,783
• Gavin C. Rozzi: 1,769
• Sonia Marchitello: 1,756
• Ashley Larsen: 1,131

The Downing, Giordano, McAvoy and Peters campaign wrote the following on its Facebook page: "Thank you to everyone who supported us! We appreciate it!"

Marchitello wrote a note thanking supporters on the Marchitello, Rozzi and Armato campaign Facebook page.

"Projected winners have been announced," she said. "I have mixed feelings about what I’m seeing. I just hope 2020 will see change in our school district. We had great momentum going there for a few months. Let’s not lose sight of the how’s and why’s. Let’s stick together. Let’s continue to support the kids, the staff and maintain pressure on these board members and administration to be held accountable for what they are in place to do."

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Lacey Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.