BOE 1-Year Term Not Filled Yet

Although three incumbents Melissa Senatore, Michael Stewart, and Jill VanNess retained their seats on the Jefferson Board of Education after running unopposed in this year's election, there is still a one-year unexpired term that needs to be filled.

According to Deputy Clerk Maria Pivirotto, the results of the write-in campaigns haven't been tallied yet because the township hasn't received the provisional or mail-in ballots yet. She said the mail-in ballots were extended until Friday.

"It could be enough to change the election," she said. "So we don't have any kind of results for that."

Pivirotto said there has been an "extreme" amount of provisional and mail-in ballots. Although she said she is unsure of how many write-in campaigns there have been so far, the township won't have any results until next week once they receive the results from the county.

The one-year unexpired term opened after board member Judy Castiglione abruptly resigned in September.

Board members pointed out at the latest meeting that who ever wins in the election will be appointed soon after the election instead of waiting until January.

The three incumbents each received about 33 percent of votes on Tuesday, with Yocum, the council president, with a slight lead at 5,271 votes. Dunham received 5,245 votes, and Birmingham received 5,234, according to unofficial results posted by the Morris County Clerk.