Four candidates are seeking a two-year unexpired term on the Hamilton Township Board of Education in the Nov. 3 general election.
Anthony Benjamin, Rafael Colon, Andrew Kaszimer and incumbent Susan Lombardo are running for the seat. Voters also will choose candidates for three three-year terms on the school board.
The Hamilton Post sent questions to all four candidates in the race. Their biographies and responses are below.
Benjamin is a father of two, one of whom has special needs. He has more than 26 years of experience in education, serving children and students, staff and families as a principal leadership coach, school principal and administrator, teacher and adjunct professor.
His civic work includes the Hamilton DCR Committee; the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Child Labor Enforcement Advisory Board, of which he is a current member; The ACTS Project; and The Anchor House of Trenton. He also has coached with the Hamilton Township Recreational Soccer Association, Nottingham and HTRBA Little Leagues and Special Olympics of New Jersey Track & Field.
Colon is a 47-year-old Hamilton Township resident of Puerto Rican descent. He is a husband and father of two children, an 18-year-old senior honor student and an 8-year-old.
An active community organizer, he led food and resource drives in Hamilton during the COVID-19 pandemic and in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Colon has been involved in the Hamilton Township Recreation Baseball Association as a coach who guided two teams to division titles in 2025 and 2026, an assistant All-Star coach and a member of the board of directors. Colon has been a community advocate for more than 20 years.
Kaszimer is a retired Hamilton math teacher.
“I was President of the HTEA from 1996-2000. During my first term as President, we held a PERC election to become an Association that included Support Staff and 27 members of the Child Study teams. Since retiring in 2006 I have volunteered as a R.O.B.I.N. initially at Yardville Heights and now at Sunnybrae,” he said.
“I served on the Hamilton BOE from 2007-2010. As a BOE member, I helped negotiate the 2009 HTEA contract.”
Lombardo was appointed to the school board this summer to serve through the end of the year. She previously served on the board from 2014 to 2023.
“It has been an honor to serve my community and work alongside so many dedicated individuals and colleagues over the years who are committed to making a positive difference,” she wrote on her campaign Facebook page.
“I had the privilege to serve as board president and vice president and served on many committees, including curriculum and instruction, finance and operations, personnel, strategic planning and district and community Relations. During my time as a Board member, we were faced with many challenges and obstacles throughout the district, through collaboration and hard work we worked together to implement substantial improvements.”
Why did you decide to run?
Benjamin: Over the past several years, I have sat in meetings and heard a lot of complaints about what was wrong with the Hamilton school system, but did not often hear a lot of viable solutions or the willingness to present solutions to the administration or members of the BOE on how to improve the system or certain practices.
I am running to represent and advocate for the change that I and others seek. I am looking to be an active, engaged and contributing member, and look forward to supporting and ensuring the schools thrive.
I am committed to representing our community and serving as one of those passionate, educated and highly trained individuals. My background in K-12 education equips me with considerable insight into the structures, policies and practices that guide and influence schools. Being a member of the Hamilton Township Board of Education will give me the opportunity to support enhancing our school system as we move forward with great optimism during expected challenges.
Colon: As a resident of Hamilton, I have given back to the community of Hamilton and always wanted to run for office to serve the people of this beautiful town.
Kaszimer: I decided to run because I want to enhance open dialogue and collaboration during public meetings. I also want to advocate for programs that will strengthen student achievement.
I hope to address the concerns of the community by increasing communication with all stakeholders.
Lombardo: I am a proud Hamiltonian, Mother, Grandmother and Graduate of Nottingham High School Class of 1986. I served as a Hamilton Board of Education member from 2014 to 2023, and I was recently appointed to fill the vacant seat in August of this year.
It has been an honor to serve my community and work alongside so many dedicated individuals and colleagues over the years who are committed to making a positive difference.
What separates you from other candidates in this race?
Benjamin: I am an effective and experienced educator with more than 26 years in education serving students, staff and families at the K-12 level as a teacher and administrator in urban and suburban school districts. From these roles and experiences, I bring ideas and solutions to challenges that are unique to education but will affect our children long after they graduate high school and enter society.
I have served and currently serve as a member of other types of representative boards and understand the roles and responsibilities of serving in this unique capacity. I have served as a volunteer in several communities and sectors throughout New Jersey and understand the rigors and commitment needed to effect change.
Colon: In my particular race, I have a stake in the school system. I have two children, a senior honor student at Steinert High School and a third grader at Kuser Elementary School.
I am a voice in the community. I am one of the youngest, a fresh face, I am a minority. I am a Latin American who would represent 23.7% of the Latino community. Not only representing the Latino community, but the entire Hamilton Township community.
Kaszimer: I have taught in both the high school and middle school and now volunteer in an elementary school, all in Hamilton Township. I have negotiated contracts for the HTEA as well as negotiated a contract as a board member.
These experiences separate me from the other candidates.
Lombardo: I had the privilege to serve as board president and vice president and served on many committees, including Curriculum and Instruction, Finance and Operations, Personnel, Strategic Planning and District and Community Relations.
During my time as a board member, we were faced with many challenges and obstacles throughout the district, through collaboration and hard work we worked together to implement substantial improvements.
What do you see as the most pressing issue facing the school board and why?
Benjamin: Establishing enhanced and impactful policy that responds to the ever-changing, diverse and complex issues around school funding, special education, artificial intelligence/technology integration, declining enrollment/attendance, school discipline, and rigorous and relevant curriculum.
Colon: I think trying to manage aging and outdated infrastructure with the lack of funding. We have to try to update better HVAC systems and better piping for our water systems that may contain lead.
Kaszimer: The most pressing issue facing our district is a financial one. Costs continue to increase. The comprehensive facilities plan indicates a variety of needs. Classroom space is stretched to the limit.
Decisions need to be made concerning the buildings at Park Avenue and Greenwood Avenue. Student programs for vocational courses as well as functional life skills classes need to be brought back. Everything mentioned requires great financial planning.
Lombardo: Together we supported the implementation of additional safety and security measures throughout the district. We made significant improvements to our facilities, and we initiated additional programs and resources to support educational achievement and success for all students.
Through committee discussion and community involvement we continued to plan for the future of the district while making sure that the needs of our students, their families, our staff and the community was always a priority. We need to continue working together to ensure that our district has the resources that they need to be successful and achieve their goals.
How would you go about solving that issue?
Benjamin: I would go about solving issues by doing the following: actively and regularly meet with constituents and stakeholders to listen to and document their concerns; audit and review current data and practices to identify what is working and what is not; collaborate with administration to research and identify best practices; and collaborate with and engage voters in deciding the best course of action.
Colon: To be honest, I would like to sit with the board once I am elected to find applicable solutions to some of these pressing issues we have with the HVAC systems as well as our water and pipes that contain lead. TWW controls the water, but what are we doing to fix filtration in the buildings?
Kaszimer: Looking outside the box for ways to increase revenue. Also, prioritizing needs, asking questions and listening to all points of view will help me make the right decisions to deal with the financial situation.
Lombardo: I am dedicated to working together and continuing to make all students, families, staff and community our priority. If given the opportunity to continue serving on the Hamilton Board of Education I will listen, ask questions, and collaborate to solve issues we face while always celebrating our achievements.
I ask for your support in November so that we can continue to work together for our district.
This article has been updated from the print version of the Hamilton Post to reflect remarks received by Susan Lombardo since press time.
