Five File for Black Horse Pike Regional Board Runs

Tuesday not only marked the Republican and Democratic parties' primary elections in New Jersey, but also the petition filing deadline for those seeking board seats in the state's first-ever November school elections.

A total of five people filed to run in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District (BHPRSD) Board of Education race for three seats.

Incumbents Jay J. McMullin and Jennifer Storer are seeking re-election.

Also filing petitions with the Camden County Clerk's Office by Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline were 2011 Gloucester Township Council candidate Sam Garro, Dawn Leary and former BHPRSD board member Louis Vizoco.

Incumbent Joe Baldino did not file a nominating petition.

There are three full three-year terms up for grabs in this year's election. All three seats are Gloucester Township seats. There are no open seats for Bellmawr or Runnemede, the regional school district's two other sending towns—each of which get one board representative by virtue of being significantly smaller than Gloucester Township.

School elections historically have been held in late April in New Jersey. A bill passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie in mid-January gave school districts the option of maintaining April elections or moving to the same day as November elections.

Most districts opted to move to November, including Gloucester Township Public Schools. In fact, in Camden County, only the Haddon Heights school district stuck with an April election.

School elections moved to November earlier this year must continue to be held in November through at least 2015, according to state law.