For immediate release, January 7, 2026

Piscataway Progressive Democrats Announce BOE President
Shantell M. Cherry for Ward 1 Council Seat; Popular Public Servant, Scout Leader and mom of six joins Democratic Primary to bring Affordability, Accountability and Accessibility to Piscataway Working Families

Piscataway, NJ – Today, the Piscataway Progressive Democratic Organization (PPDO) announced that Shantell M. Cherry will run for the Ward 1 Council seat in the June 2, 2026 Democratic Primary to represent her neighbors. After a decade of leadership and service on the Board of Education, where she is finishing her second term as President, Shantell is running for Council to ensure our Ward 1 neighbors get the resources and services they deserve. She is a founding member of the PPDO, an all-volunteer, grassroots group launched in 2016. PPDO won two of the three At-Large Council seats in the 2024 primary, the first election without the corrupting influence of the “County Line.”

Voters and volunteers can follow Shantell’s campaign on Facebook (@shantellforpwayward1) to get involved in the campaign for her and her running mates in other wards, including Betsy Aumack in Ward 2 and Viola Stone in Ward 3. Shantell received the largest number of votes cast in her last three Board of Education elections, including in a 9-person contest in 2023, where she and her slate swept the race for three seats.

Shantell has lived in Piscataway for nearly 30 years, and is committed to building a community that is safe, affordable and responsive to all the people who live here. She understands both the challenges facing working families and the opportunities that smart, transparent local leadership can create. She has raised six children in the Township and has actively participated in community service because she is very vested in what happens here.

PPDO Vice Chair and At-Large Council Member Laura Leibowitz said the organization is excited to see Shantell run. “We proudly support Shantell Cherry for Piscataway Ward 1 Town Council. As an accomplished BOE President, an active community volunteer, a foster mom, and an experienced Scout parent, she brings intelligence, compassion, and proven leadership to everything she does. I’ve worked with Shantell in education and community service and know she will be a strong, thoughtful advocate for our town.

“As an educator and a parent, I know how important our schools are to our community. Our award-winning district recently received an A overall and an A+ for diversity and college prep by Niche.com, recognizing the incredible job Shantell and her volunteer colleagues have done to make our schools thrive. Unfortunately, the municipal government has relied on PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) agreements in the past, which drain taxes from our schools and push the burden on to our taxpaying residents. Piscataway was one of many districts around the state that faced additional tough choices last year, but Shantell listened, led and learned in that process. As a Ward 1 Council member, she will bring her wealth of knowledge about these issues to ensure tax fairness in our community,” said Leibowitz.

Shantell has been an elected member of the Piscataway Township Board of Education since 2015. Currently completing her second term as President of the BOE, she served for two years as Vice President in 2022 and 2023. She represents the Piscataway BOE in the NJ School Boards Association Delegate Assembly and also serves as a Resolution Subcommittee member. Additionally, Shantell is the representative to the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey Board of Directors, where she serves on the Policy and the Finance Committees. She also serves on the DEI Committee for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Monmouth and Middlesex County. Shantell is running in her private, personal capacity as an individual citizen, and is not representing the Board of Education in her campaign.

Prior to being elected to the School Board, Shantell was the PTO president of Grandview Elementary School for four years. She presently serves as the Piscataway Girl Scouts Service Unit Co-manager, a position she has held for almost a decade. She has been a Troop Leader with both the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts, serving as Treasurer during that time. From 2016 to 2020, Shantell was a member of the Board of Directors of Embrella, New Jersey’s foster care nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that supports children, youth, and families within the child welfare community.

A lifelong Democrat and a retired U.S. Postal Service employee, Shantell is running to make sure the voters of Ward 1 have a strong advocate who will fight for our neighbors’ needs. She believes the government works best when it listens to the people it serves, ensuring every voice is heard and respected. As an experienced public servant and a proven community leader, Shantell will be a champion for Ward 1, addressing long standing concerns including equitable access to public services, environmental justice and accountability from our elected officials. She will bring a fresh voice and a new generation of leadership alongside her deep commitment to genuine public safety and protection for our children, families and most vulnerable neighbors to our Council.

Vote Democrat for Change Shantell Cherry for Piscataway’s Ward 1 Working Families!
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