Eight to run for Whitehall Board of Education

By Dan King

Eight candidates will officially be running for three seats on the Whitehall Board of Education when the May 19 election rolls around and none are incumbents.

The candidates are Tony Scrimo, Steven St. Claire, Marcia Rocque, Pat Norton, Mike Rocque, Stiling Knight, Harold Nicholson Jr., and Joseph Swahn.

New York State School law lays out which elected officials are allowed to run for school board. The only elected position that is not allowed to run is the Town Supervisor, thus all the candidates on this year’s ballot are eligible to run for the school board.

District Clerk Martha Bascue said last week – when only seven candidates were running – that this was the most the district had ever seen run for the board.

“This is definitely a record,” she said. “I’m excited to see this much interest in the district.”

There are two five-year seats available, those of former board members Mark DeLuca and Ted LaRose, both of whom decided not to seek reelection. Additionally, the remaining four years of the seat formerly occupied by Jim Huntington is also up for election.

The third leading vote-getter will take Huntington’s seat and the top two vote-getters will take DeLuca and LaRose’s seats.

Whoever wins Huntington’s seat will be sworn in on Election Day, Bascue said. Meanwhile, the two who win DeLuca and LaRose’s seats will be sworn in on July 13.

Voting guidelines

In order to vote in the May 19 election, a person must be 18 years of age or older, reside within the district for at least 30 days prior to the election, and the district must be that person’s primary domicile.

You do not have to be a registered voter to vote in the election.

“We encourage anyone 18 or older, including students to come out and vote,” Bascue added.
Voting will take place on May 19 from noon to 9 p.m. in the high school’s LGI.