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The Board of Education slate led by incumbent Giuseppe “Joe” Grillo, along with Carritta Cook and Wendi Glassman, have received the endorsement of a prominent area Democrat — state Senator Vin Gopal, who represents Asbury Park.

“They will push for transparency and protect families and taxpayers,” Gopal said of the Cook-Grillo-Glassman ticket. “We can’t go backwards on this board, with the days of terrible newspaper headlines and cronyism.”

Three seats are up for election on the nine-member board. Also running for the seats are Anthony Remy and Iman-Mtume Hall, who are running together on the Children First slate.

The following is the full statement by Gopal endorsing Cook, Grillo and Glassman:

As your Senator representing Asbury Park, working with capable leaders to ensure quality education and fiscal responsibility at the local level is critical.

I am thrilled to endorse Carritta Cook, Joe Grillo, and Wendi Glassman for Asbury Park Board of Education.

Under the current Board’s watch, Asbury Park High School’s graduation rate has soared from 49% in 2014 to 85% in 2020. School suspensions are down 77% since instituting social-emotional learning for our children. And enrollment has increased tremendously this year. And this was done by cutting over $8 million in spending.

The board has shown leadership during COVID by providing Chromebooks and Wifi tablets to all students who needed them to start the school year with all-virtual learning. They have met our students’ and families’ fundamental needs by distributing over 28,000 meals since March. 

This happened during Joe’s watch on the board. In addition, Asbury Park received hundreds of thousands of dollars in extraordinary special education funding as a result of their advocacy. This was crucical for the district. 

Carritta is a medical professional and parent with a son in the school district. She will be a voice on the Board for all parents.

Wendi has decades o professional experience as a finance executive and mentor to women re-entering the workplace. She is exactly the kind of leader the Board needs during these trying financial times for the district. 

Carritta, Joe and Wendi are who Asbury Park needs. They will push for transparency and protect families and taxpayers. We can’t go backwards on this board, with the days of terrible newspaper headlines and cronyism. We need to move forward for every child in Asbury Park by voting for Cook, Grillo and Glassman.

Join me in supporting Cook, Grillo, Glassman for Asbury Park School Board. Vote Columns 1, 2, and 4 on the back of your mail-in ballot.    

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