Essen, Bubba, and Albanese Elected to Board of Education
Essen elected to first full term. For Bubba and Albanese, it will be the first time they've held public office.
Incumbent Kim Essen and challengers Michael Bubba and Eileen Albanese have, for now, won seats on the Wayne Board of Education.
They were elected to three-year terms.
Voting totals do not include at least 2,000 absentee ballots already cast.
Town Clerk Paul Margiotta said that is the number of absentee ballots cast before Hurricane Sandy hit North Jersey. He said he was not aware of the final total of absentee ballots cast.
“If this is the way that it turns out after those ballots are counted, I’m thrilled,” Albanese said. “We’re still waiting for those ballots to be counted though.”
Essen could not be reached for comment.
“I’m thrilled that I won,” Bubba said. “I know there’s a lot of hard work in front of me. It’s time to put the kids first.”
The Community for Academic Excellence, a non-partisan group of current and former Wayne educators, endorsed Bubba and Montoyne for spots on the board.
Essen was selected to replace outgoing board trustee James Jimenez in Sept. 2011. This will be her first full term on the board if the results hold up.
Bubba and Albanese have never held public office before.
| Candidate | Number of Votes |
| Eileen Albanese | 6,937 |
| Kim Essen | 6,777 |
| Michael Bubba | 6,605 |
| Cathy Kazan | 5,857 |
| Don Monteyne | 5,395 |
— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Randie
11:43 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Congrats to Eileen Albanese - you are the right person to get elected and so happy you will be on our Board of Education! Great Job, we are lucky to have you.
LAX34
11:45 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
WooHoo for Wayne! Great job ladies.
ilovemydogs
4:17 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Congratulations Eileen Albanese !!!!
go
7:20 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
NEW Board members. That is what Wayne needs. Hopefully this Board will ASK Wayne parents what is needed for their kids AND the Board will listen. Your newly elected positions are greatly important to all of us in Wayne. And remember why you are on the Board. To give our children the best Education as well as best Edicational environment possible. Do right by them and you will be respected and successful. Can't wait to hear from you.
wayne72
8:16 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Thank you voters for doing the right thing. Now lets watch all the sour grapes come out. Mrs. Essen and Mrs. Albanese are proven to be hard workers and professional. They will work to bring good things to Wayne.
Very Thankful
8:25 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Very thankful for the results. Glad Eileen and Kim took top spots as they deserve it. So glad to see the board has been moving in the right direction over the last two elections. Good people and good things happening in Wayne. Now that Wayne has had a profession board for the last year and will continue in this manner...I hope it will encourage better qualified residents to consider joining the board in future elections.
SoccerMom3
8:35 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Congratulations to Kim and Eileen. You will make a great contribution to a board that have proving to be moving in the right direction. Dr. Gonzalez is very lucky you both won as you will all make a wonderful team.
Crossstitchx
8:41 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Well, I am happy with e turn out of THIS election :)
Good luck Mrs. Essen and Mrs. Albansesi I have all faith that you will continue to do great things for our community. Once again, the best people won- in this election :)
Rex miatke
10:43 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Nice to see Eileen won. Wayne is truly blessed to have her on the board. Nice to know that the years my kids will be in Hills she will be on the board helping shape our Wayne education. Again congrats to Eileen, Kim, and Mike.
Bob Cacciarelli
10:43 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Congratulations Mike Bubba. A hard working individual who will only make the BOE a better organization!
Warren
8:39 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Good job to the Winners. Hopefully you will be the start of cleaning up this board which in the past has been frequented by hacks and Paterson school district fools.Keep the corrupt union on their slimy heels.
Nose Wayne
8:39 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Congratulations Mike, I NOSE you are a hard worker and will be a great addition to our Board of Education.
Wayne Parent
8:36 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
When Wayne joins the 21st century and adds full day kindergarten I will have faith that the board has its priorities right.