Callahan, Meyer and Sackett-Gable victorious in SOMA

Maplewood School Board candidates Liz Callahan, Will Meyer and Shayna Sackett-Gable appear to have held off a write in challenge from former school board members Jeff Bennett and  Anthony Mazzocchi.

Essex County listed Sackett-Gable with 5,000 votes, Meyer with 4,854 and Callahan with 4,775. There were three open seats on the board.

Bennett received a total of 1,635 write in votes while Mazzocchi received 1,581, according to the uncertified tallies.

The election came during a tumultuous time for the district with the superintendent having just been placed on an administrative leave that will last until his contract is up in June. Assistant Superintendent Kevin Gilbert has been named acting superintendent.

The district has been dealing with several issues over the past few months, including bussing problems, a vote of no confidence in the superintendent from the teacher’s union, concerns about a plan to eliminate honors classes and a decision to cancel all Halloween activities in district schools.

In addition to Bennett and Mazzocchi, 67 other names were written on the ballot, including Bob Deniro, Joe Pesci and Al Pachino (spelled that way), who each received one vote, and Tony Bennett, who actually got 10 votes.

  Maplewood, South Orange, South Orange Maplewood Board of Education