Ridge Students Plan Twp., BOE Candidate Forums

As in past years, Ridge High School students in the Ridge Empowerment for Political Participation club is planning to host two candidate forums, to be moderated by the League of Women Voters of Somerset Hills. The candidate forums are open to the public.

This year's four candidates competing for two positions on the Bernards Township Committee will be invited to the first forum on Oct. 18. The event is expected to be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Ridge. Candidates are Republican incumbents Carolyn Gaziano and John Malay, facing Democrats Michael Komondy and David Ferdinand.

The second forum is planned for Nov. 1 as a combination event with students from the Ridge Forensics club. The Forensics students are planning to debate the issues of the campaign from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by a Meet the Candidates forum for the school board candidates from 8 to 9 p.m. That event also is scheduled to be held at the high school's Performing Arts Center.

Earlier this year, four candidates filed to be be included on a ballot for three seats on the Board of Education that will begin in January.

Those candidates are school board incumbents Robin McKeon, Audrey Cohen Sherwyn and Beverly Cwerner, and newcomer Louis D'Autorio, who is a graduate of Ridge High School.

More details will be upcoming in the future.