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Editor, the Asbury Park Sun,

The recent hiring of a new superintendent for the Asbury Park School District is welcome news for students and families in the city and for everyone who cares about improving this school district.

This community now has an opportunity to continue moving in a positive direction by electing a school board that will help ensure that the young people of Asbury Park are given the tools they need to be successful. That is why I am proud to offer my support for Charles Smentkowski who is seeking election to the Asbury Park Board of Education.

A former Asbury Park Police officer and lieutenant detective in the Prosecutor’s office, Charles is a long-time resident of the city where he and his wife raised six children.

In addition to being invested in the city, Charles also has a vision for improving this school district that includes working cooperatively with his fellow board members to improve the quality of education provided in Asbury schools. In addition, he will work to expand vocational training and career readiness, build on early childhood programs, and will seek to establish and enhance partnerships between educators and parents.

The children of Asbury Park must be provided with the educational foundation and the skills needed to achieve success. This process begins by electing new leadership to the school board. That is why I am proud to endorse Charles Smentkowski for the Asbury Park Board of Education and I urge the residents of Asbury to support him on Nov. 4.

—  Mary Pat Angelini, assemblywoman, 11th district

[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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