School Board Candidate Drops Out of Race

A candidate for the New Brunswick Board of Education has left the race in support of another candidate.

It was announced Tuesday that Rev. Antonio Finney would be withdrawing from the race in support of Cedrick Goodman, a city activist and candidate on the ballot.

"Reverend Antonio Finney of 1116 Fernwood (Court), New Brunswick has decided to step aside and throw his support behind Mr. Cedrick Goodman, to ensure a win," a press release from Goodman read. "He is asking all of his supporters and the residents of New Brunswick to band their support together and vote for Mr. Cedrick Goodman who is running for the school board."

On Tuesday, Finney said that he chose to support Goodman in recognition of Goodman's community involvement, specifically citing a past effort that was successful in avoiding the layoffs of a number of district paraprofessionals.

"This is the kind of worker that we want involved in our board of education," he said.

Goodman and Finney both sought a one-year term on the board. Two seats - the one year-term and a two-year term - will be up for election.

Finney said he hopes the change brought from the election will result in less money allotted to administration costs and more for after school programs, new teachers and special education programs.

Five candidates will vie for two seats that are being added to the board following November's election results that switched the board from appointed to elected.

Candidates for the two-year term are:

• Martin Arocho, 8 Dewey Drive
• Jerry B. Mercado, 69 Pennington Road
• Ronald A. Hush, 144 New St.

The candidates for the one-year term are:

• Cedrick Goodman, 29 Joyce Kilmer Ave.
• Diana Fajardo, 54 Remsen Ave.

The special election is scheduled for Jan. 22.

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