BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Should partisan politics be removed from the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional Board of Education race? That is the question floating around after Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench endorsed two Board of Education candidates.
Moench sent out an email to Republican voters endorsing Barry Walker and John-Paul Levin, who he says are also Republicans.
Both are among the four candidates vying for two, three-year seats on the school board. That email was then shared on a Bridgewater community Facebook page causing controversy.
Some say it is his freedom of speech to have an opinion on the race while others have started a petition to keep politics out of the school board race.
Patti Selikoff, who unsuccessfully ran last year as a Democrat for Township Council, started the petition on Friday and also asked the township council on Monday to introduce an ordinance that would keep elected officials out of nonpartisan races.
"I am extremely disappointed that a mayor that is supposed to represent all of us, has decided to use his position to endorse or influence a non-partisan race," Selikoff said during the township meeting Monday. "I am not asking to limit his freedom of speech but I do think as a public elected official he should stay out of non-partisan races."
Moench disagreed with Selikoff's sentiments.
"I think that any effort that asks a government to suppress any resident's right to free speech is unconstitutional," Moench said.
Council Vice President Filipe Pedroso disagreed with Selikoff's proposal of the ordinance.
"The bottom line really is that Mayor Moench has the right to have an opinion as to who he feels is best suited to represent him on the BOE," Pedroso said.
"Mayor Moench is entitled to have his opinion just because he is the Mayor it doesn't make him suddenly not care about education," Pedroso continued. "And just the opposite, I think because he is the Mayor, in a way his opinion becomes a little bit more. The constituents who voted for him they look to him for guidance… I don't see that being wrong."
Moench also spoke on the radio, NJ 101.5, Thursday morning echoing his opinions and the right to freedom of speech as well. He noted that he has three children with two in the public school system.
Council President Howard Norgalis said he would "play no part, whatsoever, in bringing the ordinance to this body, and if the majority brings it forward. I would vote against it."
Since Friday, the petition has since gained 189 signatures including BOE candidate Jessica Levitt.
"I am deeply concerned that partisan politics are being brought into the Board of Education election. As an actively involved parent who has regularly attended meetings for years, I couldn't tell you the party affiliation of all the current members. It is irrelevant to their ability to work together successfully with collaboration and respect," Levitt said. "I am certain I can work in partnership with the other members and I can work for what is best for our students, teachers, and families without any outside influence from local politicians. It is important that the board be independent from other government bodies and act with transparency and accountability for all the people of Bridgewater."
BOE candidate Scott Mihalick also disagreed with Moench's letter and endorsement.
"As a Bridgewater resident, Mayor Moench is free to endorse candidates for the school board; he did not give up that right when elected," Mihalick said. "However, endorsing and encouraging voting based on political party, to 'elect Republicans at all levels of government' (his words), certainly does not seem to be in the spirit of non-partisanship."
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