'Bring Educational Issues Back' to Regional School Board, Candidate Says

In what promises to be an entertaining campaign season leading into the November election, two candidates seeking to oust incumbents on the West Morris Regional Board of Education say they want to see change oft-contentious body, and that’s why they’ve chosen to run.

Those candidates, James Johnston and Robert Strobel, are challenging Marcia Asdal and James Button of Chester Township and Mendham Township, respectively, for three-year seats on the board.

Asdal is seeking her second consecutive term, while Button shoots for his third.

Neither Johnston or Strobel are new to elected public office. Johnston, in fact, has more than 20 years experience between the Chester School District Board of Education and regional board, where he last served as president in 2013. Johnston did not run for re-election when his term was up at the end of last year. His seat was filled by current president Gary Lakritz, who beat out Russ Cembrinski and Bruce Sullivan in the General Election.

Strobel is the current deputy mayor for Mendham Township on the municipality’s committee. When petitions to run for re-election in the June Primary Election were due earlier this year, Strobel did not file, letting his term expire as of Dec. 31, 2014.

Just after July 28 filing deadline to run for a board seat passed, Johnston didn’t mince words about his campaign run, or why he chose to jump back into the fray.

“It is time to bring educational issues back as the main focus for the West Morris High School Board of Education,” Johnston told Patch. “For the last several years, a minority group of board members, with their own personal agendas (that have precious little to do with education), have been extremely disruptive to the Board’s ability to govern. It is for this reason, and because I believe in the quality of our schools, that I am running for the Chester Township seat on the West Morris Regional High School Board of Education.”

Strobel’s connection to the district goes back to his youth where he attended and graduated Mendham High School. While running for the board seat was distant consideration when he chose not to run for re-election on the Township Committee, it wasn’t until recently, he said, that he decided to give it a go.

“As a committee member, I found issues involving the schools to be among the most engaging,” Strobel told Patch. “I only recently decided to run, after ensuring my family was fully supportive and receiving encouragement from many people throughout Mendham Township.”

Strobel said his time at Mendham High School was “one of the best things that ever happened to me, and I want to make sure all kids in Mendham Township can say the same.”

Strobel also said Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast deserves a fully supportive board that is focused on the work of the board and its committees.

“As a Mendham Township Committee member I demonstrated my ability to build consensus with elected officials from the Chesters and Mendhams by obtaining their full participation in a thorough study of the current district,” Strobel said. “That study will explore whether a new configuration for the high school would be more appropriate. I want to bring that same consensus building skill to creating a Board that fully supports the Superintendent. With a fully supportive Board, I firmly believe we can have a school that is not only among the best in the state, but also in the country.”

The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4.