Shah 'Cautiously Optimistic' About Election Outcome

Candidate Priti Shah said on Monday night she is "cautiously optimistic" about the outcome of a final vote count by the county Board of Elections Monday afternoon that certified her as the winner of a third seat on the Board of Education, putting her at four votes ahead of incumbent Beverly Cwerner.

Both Shah and the county said that Cwerner has the option of calling for a vote recount in such a close ballot outcome. Cwerner could not be reached on Monday by email or phone. 

Shah's certification as winner, unless contested, would result in her being sworn onto the school board on May 9, along with the two other declared winners from a roster of nine candidates. Those winners are incumbent Susan McGowan and candidate Linda Wooldridge.

"I was pleasantly surprised," Shah said on Monday night. Nevertheless, Shah, who said she has lived in The Hills for 15 years, said she would wait to hear whether Cwerner will request a recount.

No matter what, Shah said she will advance her goal of bringing no-cost enrichment programs to the district. Even before the election, she said she had scheduled a meeting with the district's director of curriculum, Sean Siet, to discuss her ideas.

Shah also said that the crowded candidate list of nine residents willing to volunteer their time by seeking three three-year seats on the board was a tribute to the community.

According to the county clerk's office, the final count  of 119 provisional ballots cast last week resulted in 1,190 votes for Shah, and 1,186 votes for incumbent Beverly Darvin Cwerner, now placed as fourth in a nine-way race for three board seat. An unofficial count after last Wednesday's school election put Cwerner in the lead, 1163-1,146.

Monday's vote certification final vote count on Monday was 1,700 for McGowan, followed by 1,410 for Wooldridge.The official count for the township's school budget also was certified as 2,437 for and 1,837 against.

The county and school district both said last week that the 17-vote spread between the third and fourth-place candidates, Cwerner and Shah, wasin last Wednesday's school election. 

Shah had outlined here proposals for enrichment programs for Bernards students at a candidates night held on April 7, and in campaign literature.

Among her suggestion was that schools hold lunches with volunteer guest speakers from industry who could discuss many new fields.     

Shah also said schools can invite  a series of field experts after school who could be paid through the mini units or option two alternative programs to earn high school credits.

The schools also could assemble small groups interested in specific areas, such as web-based museum tours and space program projects, Shah said. She proposed having volunteer parents leading small groups.