An
NA Today Exclusive:
HUGHES
RESIGNS FROM SCHOOL BOARD
Incumbent
resigns from BOE, but plans to keep his name
on the ballot in the upcoming April 19th election!
NORTH
ARLINGTON - In another odd turn of events, incumbent
school trustee Scott Hughes resigned from the North
Arlington Board of Education but will remain a candidate
on the ballot come the April 19th election.
In
what must be considered strange even for North
Arlington, Mr. Hughes was not present when his letter
of resignation was read into the record at last night's
meeting of the school board by Superintendent of Schools
Oliver Stringham.
It IS
unclear when the resignation took effect. It is
also unclear as to what the board intends to do to
fill the vacancy.
With
Mr. Hughes officially still a candidate, voters could
in effect reelect someone who apparently doesn't want
to serve as a trustee.
The
news of Hughes resigning became a rumor almost
from the day he filed for reelection. Those close
to the incumbents have stated Mr. Hughes was
not enthusiastic about seeking reelection and not
optimistic about being returned to office. With Hughes
in a state of political limbo, Karen Palatella finds
herself with a running-mate seemingly not interested
in campaigning or serving should he be reelected.
Others
saw the Hughes resignation as an opportunity to save
face in wake of a tough election. Some believe
Hughes will actually run as a Republican in the upcoming
council race with retired police officer Gary Fanning
and last year's last place finisher, Independent George
McDermott. Sources close to the local GOP have found
it nearly impossible to recruit a credible ticket
in wake of last year's 12-district sweep which left
Democrats a commanding 6-0 majority on the borough
council for the first time.
Supporters
of Nick Mazzolla and Fred Frato, who are running as
a team thought the resignation was tainted as long
as Hughes was still a candidate for reelection.
"Why
resign and keep your name on the ballot? There is
a mixed message being sent to voters. How can you
continue to run for an office you have no intention
of serving? The right thing to do is to have Mr.
Hughes name removed from the ballot. This is political
chicanery that has no place in a nonpartisan school
election," observed one former North Arlington school
board member who asked not to be identified.
Hughes
formerly served the borough of North Arlington as
its $60,000 a year Crime Analyst. The position was
abolished last year in Mayor Russ Pitman's reorganization
of municipal government that eliminated fourteen positions.
Mr. Hughes is a supporter of Senator Paul Sarlo
and is employed by the Wood Ridge Board of Education.
