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To the Editor, Asbury Park Sun:

I am asking you to join me in supporting the Cook-Grillo-Glassman for the Asbury Park school board.

I have personally worked with Joe Grillo on many community projects. He is a tireless community leader who puts his head down and gets the job done.

His work as head of the Asbury Park Democrats has made it one of the leading Democratic organizations in the state.

He is one of the co-founders of the Asbury Park Dinner Table which distributed over 70,000 meals to local families in cooperation with three west side black churches in Asbury Park.

Most importantly, as a former Asbury Park Board of Education President, I see a school district on the rise because of the hard work of Joe Grillo and his colleagues on the board. The graduation rate is up from 49% in 2014 to 85% in 2020. And 65% of those graduates are choosing to attend four-year colleges, up from 27% just a few years ago. 

I see that Mr. Grillo’s opponents have resorted to Trump-like tactics instead of running on issues that can help our children. This is disappointing. They are supposed to be representing the community. Instead, I just see a campaign of ugly personal attacks and false information.

Joe Grillo deserves to be re-elected along with his running mates, Carritta Cook and Wendi Glassman.

Ms. Glassman is the fourth generation of her family to live in Asbury Park. She has a background in finance and education which would serve the school board well. Ms. Cook is a medical professional whose son attends Bradley Elementary. She will be a strong voice for parents in the district.

Don’t wait until Election Day to vote – complete your ballot and either mail it, or at this late date, drop it off at the ballot dropbox at city hall, or drive it to the Monmouth County Board of Election, 300 Halls Mill Road, in Freehold. 

For the sake of the school board’s continued progress, VOTE CARRITTA COOK, JOE GRILLO, and WENDI GLASSMAN – Columns 1, 2, and 4 on your ballot. 

Gregory Hopson

Asbury Park

Former President and member of the Asbury Park Board of Education

[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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