Early Results: Brick Voters Split School Board Race, Choose Two Newcomers

Brick Township Board of Education/Schools (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Brick Township elected two new members to serve on the Board of Education, each from competing campaigns, election results released by the Ocean County Clerk’s office showed Tuesday night.

Two seats were open on the board, including one being defended by incumbent Jessica Clayton, who the early numbers show has been defeated. Board member Maria Foster did not run for re-election.

The biggest vote-getters out of a pool of five candidates were Melissa Parker, with 11,111 votes, and Michael Blandina, with 10,512 votes.

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Parker, a stay-at-home mother, has been active in the district’s PTA organizations and has four children attending school in Brick. She is also a part-time preschool teacher. Blandina is a longtime member of Brick Township’s Democrat organization and currently serves as a commissioner on the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority. He is also known for organizing Ocean County’s annual Columbus Day parade in Seaside Heights.

The results have the potential to change, county officials have advised. Vote by Mail ballots will continue to be counted after Election Day as the deadline for receipt of Vote by Mail Ballots postmarked by Tuesday is Nov. 10, 2020.