Norristown Area School Director Race: 7 Candidates, 4 Openings

NORRISTOWN, PA — The 2017 general election is underway in Norristown. Polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday and will close at 8 p.m.

In the borough, the most compelling race is for School Director. Seven candidates are running for four positions. Democrats Jamila Winder, Shae Ashe, Turea Hutson, and Matt Rivera are on the ballot, alongside Republicans Kathleen A. T. Bello, John C. Holland, and John Maxey.

In an impassioned note published Monday, Winder related how her grandmother's example had prepared her for a life of public service.

"I reflect back to stories of my 96 year old Grandmother," she wrote. "She grew up in the segregated South and walked miles to a one run school house. Early on, she knew what the power of an education (even with limitations) would do for her life. I also had the honor of watching her and my mother as educators in our public school systems. Most importantly, I watched them educate and love our country’s most underprivileged children as if they were their own. I watched from the sidelines not knowing how their actions would impact my life. Fast forward to today, I think about how their example over 30 decades has prepared me for this moment."

Meanwhile, at age 19, Maxey is the youngest candidate on the ballot. He is a political science major at Temple, and comes from a family intimately familiar with the Norristown education system: his mother has worked in the district since 2003, and he and his sister Rachel attended school in the district from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Maxey is a registered Democrat, but since he cross-filed in both parties in the primaries and only his Republican ballot was successful, that's how he'll appear on the ballot.

"Since I cross-filed, I ran a non-partisan campaign," he said. "The fact that I am a Democrat on the Republican ballot should be of no (concern), whatsoever. When it comes to the school board, voters should choose the most bipartisan, competent, candidate."

If you haven't had time to keep up with the rest of the municipal, county, and state races, a host of information can be found at Montgomery County general election page.

The statewide ballot question addresses taxing on the local level:

"Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to permit the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction, rather than limit the exclusion to one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead property, which is the existing law?"

There have been some changes to polling places. To view the changed polling places, see here. And if you just aren't sure where to vote, type in your address at this "find your polling location" link here.

Click here to view a complete sample ballot>>>

Patch file photo