School Board Candidates Forum Set for Oct. 14

The League of Women Voters of Somerset County with the Ridge High School Empowerment for Political Participation (REPP) will once again host a forum with Bernards Township Board of Education Candidates Forum, to be held at Ridge High School on Monday, Oct. 14.

The forum is scheduled to be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Ridge High School, 268 S. Finley Ave., in Basking Ridge. The public is encouraged to attend and participate by both listening and asking questions of the four board candidates who are competing for three available board seats in this November's election.

At the Oct. 14 forum, the Bernards Township Board of Education candidates, incumbents Mike Byrne, Elaine Kusel, and challengers John Groot and Christopher Viereck, are scheduled to take part. The seats up for re-election constitute a third of the nine-member school board for Bernards Township's K-12 school district.

League member Judy Schachter, who is not a resident of Bernards Township, will be the moderator. 

The format for each forum will consist of opening and closing statements from each candidate and allowing approximately 60 minutes of questions from the audience.  

Each candidate will have the opportunity to answer the questions and the opportunity for a rebuttal. No remarks of a personal or abusive nature will be permitted, as are the standard ground rules set for the forum.

Following closing statements, the forums will close with informal discussion with the candidates.

The League encourages all registered voters to vote in the general election on Tuesday, November 5.  The last day to register is Tuesday, Oct. 15. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mail is Tuesday Oct. 29 or Monday, Nov. 4 for those who apply in person, according to the league. 

The league advises that all citizens may now vote by mail, without needing an excuse. Voters may complete the application to vote by mail and return it to the County Clerks’ office 7 days prior to the election, or apply in person until 3 p.m. the day before the election, according to the league. No faxes or emails are accepted unless voters are in the military or an overseas voter.  

More voting information is at www.lwvnj.org.

The REPP (Ridge High School Empowerment for Political Participation) is a student-run, non-partisan club at Ridge High School with permission of the Ridge High School Administration. 

The League of Women Voters is described as a non-partisan, political organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility and the informed and active participation in government. For more information about the League of Women Voters of Somerset County, email lwvsomersetcounty@gmail.com.