Hamilton Township voters have no municipal races to decide in the Nov. 3 general election, but they will determine who fills four seats on the Hamilton Township Board of Education.
Three seats carry three-year terms, while the fourth is for a two-year unexpired term.
The race for the three, three-year terms features four candidates — incumbents Christina Harvey, Denise Soto and Meaghan Stanton and challenger Angela Lea.
Harvey, Soto and Stanton are running as a slate under the slogan “Mothers. Leaders. Advocates.” Lea is running under the slogan “Elevating Educational Excellence.”
Harvey currently serves as vice president of the Hamilton Township Board of Education. In addition to serving on the board, she volunteers with organizations including Girl Scouts and St. George Greek Orthodox Church and its PTO.
Harvey works full time as a lawyer and is the mother of two Hamilton Township School District students. She said her experience gives her insight into the board’s previous work on issues including student safety, educational opportunities and the implementation of district policies.
“I am running for a third term because I have begun important work to benefit our district that I would like to continue. One of my goals is to improve our district facilities that are aging,” Harvey said.
Lea has spent more than 30 years working with children and families. A retired speech-language pathologist, she is also a parent and doctoral candidate whose research focuses on parent training and early literacy.
She said her professional experience, personal investment in the district and educational background shaped her decision to run for the school board.
“I am running to serve our children, give back to our community, and contribute my more than 35 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist to the Hamilton Township Board of Education,” Lea said.
Soto is a lifelong Hamilton resident, Steinert High School graduate and parent of a Steinert student. Her mother was an educator, an experience Soto said helped shape her views on education.
A first-generation Egyptian American, Soto has volunteered in Hamilton schools for more than 15 years and is completing her first term on the Board of Education. She said she is committed to ensuring every Hamilton student feels supported and valued, regardless of background.
“Serving on the board is deeply personal to me. I chose to run because I strongly believe we have a responsibility as a community to ensure every student can learn, participate and thrive in an environment where they feel safe, respected and valued,” Soto said.
Stanton is a third-generation Hamilton resident and the parent of a Hamilton Township School District student. She has worked in special education and disability advocacy since 2011 and is pursuing an advanced degree in disability studies, focusing on expanding opportunities and equity for people with disabilities.
During her first term on the board, Stanton said she supported the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, expanded Advanced Placement opportunities, programs recognizing students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy and the MyRide K-12 transportation tracking system.
“I decided to run for a second term because serving the Hamilton Township School District is deeply connected to my family and professional experience. As a third-generation Hamiltonian and parent of an HTSD student, I have a personal connection to the future of our schools,” Stanton said.
The race for the two-year unexpired term features four candidates — Anthony Benjamin, Rafael Colon, Andrew Kaszimer and incumbent Susan Lombardo.
Benjamin is a father of two, one of whom has special needs. He has more than 26 years of experience in education, serving students, staff and families as a principal leadership coach, school principal, 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.
“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,” Benjamin said.
Colon, 47, is a Hamilton Township resident of Puerto Rican descent. He is married and has two children, an 18-year-old high school senior 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. He has been a community advocate for more than 20 years.
“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,” Colon said.
Kaszimer is a retired Hamilton math teacher who served as president of the Hamilton Township Education Association (HTEA) from 1996 to 2000.
During his first term as union president, the HTEA held a Public Employment Relations Commission election that expanded the association to include support staff and 27 members of child study teams.
Since retiring in 2006, he has volunteered through the R.O.B.I.N. program, first at Yardville Heights and now at Sunnybrae.
Kaszimer previously served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education from 2007 to 2010. As a board member, he helped negotiate the 2009 HTEA contract.
“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,” Kaszimer said.
Lombardo was appointed to the school board in August to serve through the end of the year. She previously served on the board from 2014 to 2023.
During her tenure, she served as board president and vice president and on several committees, including curriculum and instruction, finance and operations, personnel, strategic planning and district and community relations.
“I am a proud Hamiltonian, mother, grandmother and graduate of Nottingham High School Class of 1986,” Lombardo said. “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.”
