Voters back budget, board

Giralo, DiDonato and Johnson return

by Gabe Donio, Gazette Staff Writer

HAMMONTON—Voters sent incumbents Joseph Giralo, Stephen DiDonato and Johanna Johnson back to the board for three-year terms in the school board election held April 15. In addition, voters approved the school district’s budget, which included a zero tax increase for local taxpayers and $5,000,000 in additional spending in a budget of approximately $43,000,000.
There were 1172 total voters participating in the election, about 14 percent of the electorate.
Tallies for the candidates, excluding absentee and provisional ballots, were as follows: Hammonton Board of Education Vice President Joseph Giralo, 940 votes; board member Stephen DiDonato, 886 votes; board member Johanna Johnson, 827 votes. Former board member Thomas Costa received 333 votes. According to Giralo, there are less than 50 absentee ballots.
The budget passed by a margin of more than 2 to 1, with 732 residents voting for the budget and 364 residents voting against it.
Reaction to the election results, which were read at the Hammonton Town Hall, was quietly confident, with the three incumbents, board member Sal Velardi, board member Barbara Berenato, Hammonton Superintendent of Schools Mary Lou DeFrancisco, Hammonton Board Business Administrator Barbara Prettyman and others in attendance exchanging congratulatory embraces and handshakes.
Hammonton Board of Education President Loretta Rehmann said she was disappointed in the low voter turnout, but appreciated the support of the voters.
“We are a little disappointed in the number of people who came out. I expected a higher turnout. But I’m delighted the budget was passed and that the incumbents are back on the board. We’re happy to have people of great caliber working on the board,” Rehmann said.
Reelected board members said they were thankful for the public’s support and were ready to continue working on the board for the taxpayers, students, parents, staff and administration.
“I’m looking forward to the next three years. I want to thank the people of the town, and I won’t let them down,” Giralo said.
DiDonato saw the vote as an endorsement of the current board’s efforts to restore faith in the school district.
“I feel satisfied the public’s returning us to the board, and believes in what we’re doing for the district and the community,” DiDonato said.
Johnson also thanked the public for their support.
“I’m very happy. I’ll be happy to serve for the next three years. We are going to have a good future here and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Johnson said.
The reading of election results in the council chamber was historic, because it was likely the last time election results would be read in the current town hall building. A new town hall is scheduled to open behind the current town hall at Central Avenue and Vine Street on May 5.