The Bordentown Regional School District Board of Education was always certain to have at least one new voice come January, but now we know that there will be two newcomers on the board next year.
Carmen Rivera was running unopposed for the final year of an unexpired three-year term originally held by Larry Braasch, and then Raquel Parker, who was appointed to the seat after Braasch resigned in 2023.
At the same time, Parker and incumbent Richard Shenowski were on the November ballot along with Virinder K. Mann to vie for two available three-year terms.
Rivera received 3,944 votes out of a possible 3,960 to confirm her place on the board for 2025. To remain on the board beyond 2025, Rivera will have to run again next November.
Winning the two full terms up for grabs were Mann, with 3,184 votes, and Shenowski, with 2,805. Parker who finished third with 2,183 votes, will no longer be a board member when it reorganizes in January. Katherine Clark, who held one of the expiring seats, did not run for re-election.
Mann shared a message of gratitude to Facebook on Nov. 7. “Thank you to everyone who supported this journey — my amazing family, friends and every single voter who believed in [my] vision…I’m excited to get to work and make a positive impact for our schools and community.”
Also winning re-election to the board in November was Michael James, the long-term board member and current president of the board, who was the lone candidate on the Bordentown City ballot. James received 1,414 out of 1,465 possible votes.
Of the nine seats on the board, two are allotted to residents of Bordentown City, one to Fieldsboro, and the remainder to Bordentown Township.
