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Posted by Pepe Bonmot
on May 21, 2002 at 17:10:53:
DeROSA NEW SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR By Steven Glazer (Jersey City) Tempers flared, battle lines were drawn and, in the end, William DeRosa was installed as Chairperson of the Jersey City Board of Education in its reorganization meeting. In the nominating process heated arguments erupted between board members preceded the vote, which was almost anti-climatic following the verbal fireworks. DeRosa is a 34-year veteran Lincoln High School teacher and is said to be the choice of Congressman Robert Menendez. DeRosa won over rival nominee Willie T. Flood, another career educator in the system, who is said to be the choice of Mayor Glenn Cunningham. DeRosa maintained, “This meeting has nothing to do with any congressman. We have to change the direction of the State. I am controlled by only a few people - my wife and my triplets. I am a good listener and I am going to keep an open door.” As the June primaries approach long-smoldering tensions between the Cunningham camp and the Menendez faction keep erupting into public view. Cunningham threw down the gauntlet publicly when he demanded Menendez’ resignation as Chairperson of the Hudson Democratic Organization late in March. Observers have recently seen the County Executive, Bernard Hartnett suing the County itself and the County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders, for example. Board of Education members speaking before the reorganization vote denied factional loyalties in their voting and prefaced their nomination for the chair with declarations of their own independent action in selection. Board Member and former Mayor Anthony Cucci said, “I am offended that anyone should think that we are controlled by either Mr. Menendez or Mr. Cunningham. I don’t know where this came from. Nobody owns me. Nobody ever has. “Cucci nominated William DeRosa. Former Mayor Cucci erupted when Board Member Rev. Edward Allen accused him of a partisan vote, and nominated Willie Flood. Other business of the Board continued uneventfully with the election of Franklin Williams, another long-time Board member, as vice-chair. |
