WARREN TWP. – Though intended to be non-partisan in nature, the 2023 K-8 Board of Education reorganization was drenched in politics as a new president was selected on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Daniel Croson, a board member for one year, was chosen as president in a 6-3 vote, with one colleague and two audience members, raising pointed political questions about that decision.
Croson has served as treasurer of the Warren Township Republican Municipal Committee since last June.
Board member Patricia Zohn nominated Croson as board president. Croson successfully secured the president post in a 6-3 vote. Along with Croson himself, board members David Brezee, Mehul Desai, Scott Otto, Ryan Valentino and Zohn voted “yes.”
Board members Laura Keller, Todd Weinstein and Natalie Feuchtbaum abstained.
Board Administrator Chris Heagele explained that members could only vote “yes” or “abstain” when deciding on a nomination.
In explaining her abstention, Keller said the board president vote should be focused on the merits of the candidate. “This vote this year is a bit different, as I’m sure people can sense,” she said.
“My impression is it’s more about politics, and I don’t believe it’s right,” Keller continued.
Croson then tapped Zohn for the board vice president position. Zohn was appointed vice president in an unanimous vote.
While there will be occasions where board members disagree with each other, Croson said, that discourse is what “makes us a better board.”
“It’s part of what makes us better as a community, not rubber-stamping things, but engaging in honest debate and dialogue about the best course of action for our district, and remembering that, just because two people may disagree on a particular topic, doesn’t mean that they still can’t work together to get things done,” he said.
“The very fact that Mrs. Zohn and I were elected to leadership positions tonight is a testament to the idea that unity is not uniformity,” Croson continued.
It’s “no secret” that Zohn and Croson disagreed on a number of items throughout 2022, as Croson put it in a Thursday, Jan. 5 interview with the Echoes-Sentinel.
Some of those topics included the budget – specifically the $120,000 line item that supported enrichment programs – the reinstitution of PTO food days, which helped fund these enrichment programs, and the new health and sexual education curriculum.
Besides the board leadership decisions, first-time candidates Feuchtbaum and Otto, as well as Zohn, an incumbent, were sworn in for new terms at the reorg meeting.
Republican Warren Township Committeeman Victor Sordillo sat in the front row snapping pictures of Croson at work, after he won the board president’s position. In 2021, Sordillo and Croson walked the town together as they campaigned. Sordillo was running for a committee seat, Croson for a board term.
Political affiliations and alleged special interest agendas of the new board president came under fire from some audience members.
Levia Spingarn-Gabel of Skyline Drive applauded Brezee’s “commitment, dedication and non-partisan stance” when he carried out his duties as board president last year.
“Mr. Croson, I hope that you decide to aspire to have similar qualities as Mr. Brezee,” Spingarn-Gabel said.
She urged Croson to “unblock myself and other members of the community that you have restricted from accessing your Board of Education Facebook page so that you can adequately step into the role of president.”
Stephen Bumgarner of Skyline Drive focused on several of Croson’s political connections.
Bumgarner claimed that Croson’s personal website had displayed a political banner “Lazo-Croson for Township Committee.” Republican Township Committeeman George Lazo is up for reelection this coming November. His longtime running mate, Michael “Mick” Marion, recently resigned from the committee with a year left on his term.
When this newspaper attempted to access Croson’s website after the reorganization on Tuesday night, Jan. 3, the website was locked.
Bumgarner commented that he had also found the site locked and questioned that move. He asked the board, “Why do you think it’s a good idea to give a microphone to someone running for another public office in town?”
“Am I the only person who has concerns that this will turn into a personal campaign rally for the entire year?” he asked.
Rumors are circulating in Warren that Croson will replace Marion on the Township Committee in the next three weeks, according to Bumgarner.
Bumgarner then called attention to the “outside influences” that have financially contributed to Croson’s board campaign. Joseph Sarno of Scotch Plains donated $2,200 to Croson’s 2021 board campaign, according to Bumgarner. Sarno is the chair of the Scotch Plains Republican Committee.
Paul Humbert, a member of the Bernards Township Republican Municipal Committee, also donated $1,100 to Croson’s campaign, Bumgarner said.
“It raises a lot of questions,” Bumgarner said, “That makes me think that there’s something a little shady going on in the background.”
Croson did not respond the audience’s political inquiries.
Croson did not address the accusations from the Jan. 3 meeting, but did comment on his political campaign and dedication to the board in the interview two days later.
He said he refrained from a meeting response to keep board sessions from descending “into an afternoon show in which we air political grievances.”
With regard to the Township Committee campaign banner on his website, he said, “Every member of the public has a right to speak their minds and ask questions that hold the board accountable, even if they are from internet rumors.”
“It is disappointing that relatives of a sitting board member would attack the character of other members and the integrity of the board, especially after we had just discussed being unified,” Croson continued.
Croson was referring to Bumgarner, who is the husband of Keller.
Lazo told this newspaper via email on Jan. 4 that there had been no decisions made yet on Republican Township Committee candidates. Warren GOP Chairman Dan Gallic has scheduled a meeting to “discuss potential candidates and next best steps,” according to Lazo.
While not commenting directly on the possibility of filling Marion’s committee seat or a 2023 candidacy, Croson said he’s currently focused on being board president.
“I’ve learned in my life to never predict things in the future, even through the end of last year I didn’t predict that I would be board president,” Croson said. “You live in the moment, you do the best job you can do with the task at hand, and the future takes care of itself.”
