Elected Board Of Education Trustee To Decline Seat

Despite being elected to the Wayne Board of Education Tuesday, James Petrecca will not serve on the board.

There were three, three-years terms available on the board this year. Petrecca received 4,618 votes in Tuesday’s election and more than incumbent Vice President Michael Bubba, who received 4,411. Challenger Gail Okun and incumbent Eileen Albanese received 5,078 and 5,175 votes, respectively. Trustee Kim Essen did not run for re-election.

Petrecca, a information technology and project manager with Graver Watersystems in New Providence, was recently promoted and did not actively campaign.

“For right now, I just have a lot going on,” Petrecca said. “I do not want to take on the position if I can’t give it my all because then I feel like I’m doing a disservice to the position and the residents.”

Petrecca sent a letter withdrawing from the election Oct. 7, more than a month after the county’s Sept. 4 deadline.

“I was in shock and awe when I ended up winning because I didn’t campaign,” Petrecca said. “I got Facebook posts from people who said ’We’re voting for you anyway because we’re not happy with what’s going on with the board now.’”

Petrecca has lived in Wayne for 37 years. He has been a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, but has been reducing the amount of time he spends doing that as well.

“I still wanted to help out and volunteer in the community and someone suggested I run for the board,” Petrecca said. “I started going to the board meetings and thought I could apply my problem solving skills and knowledge and skill set to the board.”

Juanita Petty, the board’s secretary and the district’s business administrator, said the board’s counsel is looking into what the board’s options are for finding someone to fill Petrecca’s seat.