Asbury Park Board of Education election results
Newcomers Jones and Williams win seats, incumbent Simmons keeps hers
The Asbury Park school board election returns are in and a mix of candidates from the two tickets secured the three open spots, according to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk.
Retired Asbury Park schools nurse Carole B. Jones of the Moving Forward slate secured the most votes at 930. Incumbent Felicia Simmons of the A-Team ticket kept her spot on the board with 863 votes. Fellow A-Team member and newcomer Steven “Steve Williams” won a spot on the board with 853 votes.
Current board member Angela Ahbez-Anderson, who ran on the Moving Forward slate, did not win back her seat.
Six candidates from two tickets were in the running for the three available seats. All of the seats are full three-year terms.
The board’s reorganization meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.
The three individuals who ran on the A-Team slate were incumbent Simmons, Stephen “Steve” Williams and Arva M. Council. The three candidates who ran on the “Moving Forward” slate were incumbent Ahbez-Anderson, Jones and Charles Smentkowski, Sr.
There are still 161 provisional ballots that have yet to be counted, according to City Clerk Steven Kay. The results could change the outcome of the election. Kay expects the provisional ballots to be counted within the next few days, he said.
The votes are divided among the candidates as follows:
• Carole Jones leads with 930 votes, or 18.84 percent.
• Felicia Simmons is the second highest vote-getter, with 863 votes, or 17.49 percent.
• Stephen “Steve” Williams is presently in third with 853 votes, or 17.28 percent.
• Charles P. Smentkowski, Sr. has received 827 votes, or 16.76 percent.
• Angela Ahbez-Anderson has received 758 votes, or 15.36 percent.
• Arva M. Council has received 689 votes, or 13.96 percent.
• 15 write-in votes were cast.
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