4 Compete for South Huntington School Board

Four people are running for two seats on the South Huntington school board. The terms of board president Jim Kaden and member Melanie Vassallo both expire this year.

Candidates are listed here in reverse order in which they'll appear on the May 17 ballot.

Patch plans extensive coverage of the candidates' positions on issues in the coming days.

Jim Kaden: 
Age: 54
Occupation: Engineering Program Manager
Connection to the school district:  School board member for 18 years (president 14), active PTA and Booster Club member, Immediate past president of Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association.

Melanie Vassallo:
Age: 50
Occupation: Banker
Connection to the school district: School board member for three years; Two kids have gone through the South Huntington schools; a 1978 Walt Whitman High School graduate. Band parents co-president.

Laci Wright:
Occupation: Retired from the New York Police Department.
Connection to the school district: Has served on numerous PTA boards and most recently as president of Stimson Middle School PTA.  Her son is a freshman at Walt Whitman High School.

Lisa Brieff:
Occupation: Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from San Diego State University, serves as volunteer grant writer for a communtiy orchestra board. 
Connection to the school district: Active PTA member with leadership roles including PTA Council president; Cultural Arts chairperson for 11 years. Currently Walt Whitman High School PTA president. Two children have gone through the South Huntington schools; the youngest is a Whitman senior.