The Burlington County Clerk’s Office certified the general election results on Nov. 22.
Four candidates, including three incumbents, vied for the three, three-year board of education seats in Medford in the Nov. 7 election.
Incumbent Trudy Cole garnered the most votes with 4,129, followed by Incumbent Katherine Santamore with 3,988 votes and Incumbent Angela Zografos received 3,332 votes.
Candidate Alexa Folsom received 3,091 votes. There were 73 personal choice votes.
Current board members Kenyette Jones and Peyton Ebbeson ran for their first elected terms for the two uncontested, one-year unexpired terms on the board. Ebbeson received 4,637 votes and Jones received 4,532 votes. There were 68 personal choice votes.
David E. Stow ran for reelection as the Medford Township representative for an uncontested open seat on the Lenape Regional School District Board of Education. He garnered 4,940 votes. There were 69 personal choice votes.
Ahead of the general election, we asked candidates why they were running for an elected seat and what they would like to concentrate on as an elected official.
Three seats
Cole served 30-plus years on the board and will begin her next term with the board reorganizes in January.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I am running for the board of education to maintain and expand the excellence in our schools. I am also running to maintain a safe and secure environment for learning. Of course, I am also interested in continuing our strong curriculum encouraging achievement opportunities for ALL students. I am a great proponent for fiscal responsibility and I know we must have the taxpayers in mind in all we do. I continue to be an advocate for children and families.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
One area to concentrate on is our growing enrollment. I would like to investigate the options and explore good solutions to ensure good results.
Santamore served 10 terms on the board and will begin her next term with the board reorganizes in January.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
Honestly, so many neighbors, family, and school community members have urged me to run that I feel I have a responsibility to use the leadership skills I have developed over the years. Of course, I definitely encourage younger people to run, but I know I have the wisdom, patience, and empathy to serve the community. And, believe it or not, I am actually tech-savvy.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
These are tumultuous times, and the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of Medford’s students are of primary concern. Our education in Medford is top-notch, and we already have programs in place to assist our students. However, challenges lie ahead in our rapidly changing and demanding society. As a school board member, I want to be able to assure our parents and our community that our district is doing everything possible to help our students grow into confident, resilient, and successful adults … adults who can live, work, and love with joy.
Zografos, who has served on the board since 2001, will begin her next term with the board reorganizes in January.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
As a working professional parent, the school board is a way for me to give back to my community in the evening or on weekends. Additionally, the board is an opportunity to show my children community leadership. My election slogan, “Supporting Education Together,” encompasses my approach to the position. I am focused on making sure all stakeholders have a voice in education. We are a proud student first district, and this mindset naturally supports our parents, teachers, admins, taxpayers and businesses. All of us work together to put politics aside to provide the best educational experience for our community.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
Annually the entire board selects goals based on student needs, parent and community aspirations, standard requirements and district resources. For 2024, I would love our board to set a S.M.A.R.T. goal regarding Medford’s increasing enrollment. I envision our district creating a community-wide committee of various stakeholders: parents, administrators, teachers, business owners, Township Council and professionals. Together, these leaders would craft a right-sized Medford-focused strategic growth plan to alleviate the impact of our growing community. It is imperative to facilitate alignment in the solution in order to maintain our excellent schools and support our Medford culture and community.
One-year unexpired terms
Ebbeson will begin his first elected term when the board organizes in January.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I was born and raised in this community and attended the district as a student. It was an easy decision for my wife and I to choose Medford when we were looking to purchase a home. Great schools and a great community were so important to us. Going through the district as a student, I had incredible educational experiences. With my own children now in the school system, I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to help provide those experiences to this generation of Medford students.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
With my wife and I both being educators, I know how important it is for teachers to have the resources they need to help students achieve success. Great teachers are part of what makes Medford Township Public Schools such an outstanding district. As much as I am able, I want to help ensure that our teachers have the resources they need to support all students in our district. No two students have the exact same needs, so the district and its teachers need to meet students at their level. All students deserve the chance to achieve success.
Jones will begin her first elected term when the board reorganizes in January.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I served on a Medford school district committee called Partnership for a Better Tomorrow. It was a committee of parents that worked with the superintendent and administration while they developed the new school curriculum. The intent was for us to act as liaison between the administration and parents during that process.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I am running for an elected seat because I enjoyed my time on the Partnership for a Better Tomorrow Committee and developed a yearning to be more actively involved with my children’s public school system and also to give back to my community.
If elected, I would like to concentrate on the needs of our children, community and school system. I feel over the next year we need to give considerable attention to addressing the rapid increase in student enrollment and the ensuing need for school expansion.
Lenape Regional School District board
Stow will begin his next term with the Lenape Regional school board reorganizes in January.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
As a graduate of the district, a husband of a graduate, a father of two graduates and a lifelong resided of the area, I believe that my experience as a business owner, a resident and a parent allow me to continue the tradition of Educational Excellence that the Lenape Regionals High School District brings to our community and the communities that we serve.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I would like to continue to concentrate on the lack of school funding from our elected officials in this state to the attention of the residents of Medford and our surrounding communities as we strive to maintain the standard of Education that Lenape Regional High School District has always been known for, while state officials continue to burden our residents with the costs involved through a continual pattern of reducing state support for our schools and our children!
