JCEA PAC ENDORSES THOMAS, LYONS, ONA FOR THREE YEAR TERMS AND VERDIBELLO AND SHAW FOR ONE YEAR TERMS FOR JERSEY CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

JERSEY CITY, NJ September 30– Mike Greco, Chairperson of the Jersey City Education Association’s Political Action Committee, announced today that the JCEA PAC has endorsed Sudhan Thomas, Gerald Lyons, Darwin Ona, Gina Verdibello and Lekendrick Shaw for the 2019 Jersey City Board of Education election.

“On behalf of the nearly 4,000 Jersey City Public School educators and school support staff, I am pleased to announce our enthusiastic support of the members of The Education Matters slate”, said JCEA President, Ronald Greco. “These candidates have proven track records of advocacy and have demonstrated a commitment to the students of the Jersey City Public Schools as well as the community at large. Each possess unique qualities we feel are essential for a productive and successful school board. Sudhan, Gerald and Gina have demonstrated their value in their breadth of knowledge, levels of experience and progressive ideas when it comes to advocating for the students, parents and staff while being ever-mindful of their responsibility to Jersey City taxpayers. Their leadership, along with other members of the school board, has played a key role in guiding the district through a tumultuous time due to debilitating cuts in funding.”

“Additionally, Darwin and Lekendrick have exhibited they possesses the skills and understanding to be welcome additions to the board. Darwin’s commitment to public safety as well as his experience on community boards makes him an obvious choice for the board. As a product of the Jersey City Public Schools himself, and being a successful entrepreneur, Lekendrick understands first hand the opportunities provided by a first-class Education. Ona and Shaw will bring their unique experiences to the students of Jersey City.”

“Sudhan, Gerald, Darwin, Gina and Lekendrick are community-minded individuals with both short and long-term goals of making the Jersey City Public Schools a model district for the state and nation. Given the recent debilitating cuts to school funding, we need board members who can work in a cooperative and cohesive manner. The members of the JCEA will be with them every step of the way and will offer every available resource throughout their campaign,” Greco said of the union’s support for The Education Matters team.

“Through their collective experience and actions these candidates have proven to us that they have the integrity, the vision and the drive to be effective Jersey City Public School Board Members – and we want to help them achieve that goal.” Greco said.