Regional Board Member-Elect Thanks Opponent, Voters

In his first attempt to win a seat in a public office, Mendham Borough’s Brian Cavanaugh came away victorious, winning a three-year seat on the West Morris Regional Board of Education.

Cavanaugh ousted incumbent Jacke Schram, who had previously served as the board’s vice president and finance committee chairperson. The challenger garnered 1,052 votes to the incumbent’s 585.

Before starting his term in January 2014, Cavanaugh reached out to Patch with a statement to the constituents he will be serving. The letter is as follows:

I congratulate my opponent, Jacke Schram, for running a spirited campaign that focused on the issues.  I thank the voters of Mendham Borough for speaking clearly today about their desire to restore Mendham High School, and I look forward to representing the interests of all of Mendham Borough.  I congratulate Gary Lakritz in Chester Township and look forward to working with the entire West Morris Regional High School District board and administration to restore Mendham High School and to provide every student at both Mendham and Central high schools with the very best education possible. 

There were four seats open on the regional school board in Tuesday’s election. Cavanaugh won the Mendham Borough seat, and Gary Lakritz beat out Bruce Sullivan and Russ Cembrinski for the open Chester Township seat.

Current board president and Chester Township representative James Johnston did not seek re-election this year.

Washington Township representatives and incumbents Lisa Woodring and Tom Richar also were re-elected to three- and one-year seats, respectively. Neither was opposed in the election.

Schram’s and Johnston’s tenures on the board will end Dec. 31, 2013.