Township BOE Chooses Board Replacement from 16 Candidates in 3-Hour Meeting

The Gloucester Township Board of Education on Wednesday chose Edward Pearce from a field of 16 candidates to fill a vacant board seat.  

The board interviewed 14 of the 16 candidates it considered in just under two hours, then went into a hour-long, closed-door executive session, emerging just before 8:30 p.m. to elect Pearce, a Teamsters union official. 

The five board members who voted for him all cited his background in labor and contract negotiations as a reason for voting for him. Board members Raymond Carr, William Collins, Maryanne Coyle, Joseph Gunn, and William Fontanez voted for Pearce, the only candidate to be nominated.

Linda Gilch and Ellen Reese voted against Pearce. Board member Felicia Reid was not present at the vote. 

Pearce will fill the final year of Andrew Lalli's term and the position will be on the ballot next fall for a full, three-year term. 

"I've got time available now that my boys have gotten older," said Pearce, 55, who has lived in the township for 22 years and has sons in college. "It gives you some self satisfaction being involved, trying to do good for the community. It certainly wasn't for the money."

Board members receive no salary. Pearce will be sworn in in January.