Two Bensalem School Board Members Not Seeking Office

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —With a full slate of candidates running for the Bensalem Township School Board in the May 16 primary election, two recent appointees will not be seeking office once the terms they filled are up.

David Nieves Jr. and Sheldon D. Per are not among the 10 candidates seeking the five seats for four-year terms in next month's election, said Susan Phy, the school district's director of community relations.

Nieves was appointed at the end of February to replace Michael Stewart, who moved out of town.

Nieves was chosen by the school board among four candidates. He had told the board during the interview for the post that he has lived in Bensalem Township for more than 30 years and was also a township police officer for 29 years before becoming a Chester County detective in the child abuse unit.

Per joined the school board in early December.

He is Bensalem High School's most winningest head coach with Hall of Fame credentials.

Per, a 51-year township resident, has served the school district and its students since 1969. His three children graduated from the school district and he has eight grandchildren attending district schools. Per said that his wife and a child also work for the school district.

Per is a five-time class advisor and former social studies teacher at Bensalem High School for 30 years. He also serves as director of athletics and extracurricular activities.

He is filling the remaining term of late board member Heather Snyder. Snyder passed away in mid-October. The former township councilwoman had served on the school board since 2019.

The candidates running for election in the May 16 primary election are school board members Eric Price, Heather Nicholas, and Marc Cohen. Also on the ballot are: Karen Winters, Rebecca Mira, Jim Kane, Cathy Dress, Stephanie Fernandez, Deborah King, and Bryan Hanratty.

The candidates are cross filing in the primary election as Democrats and Republicans.