Essen, Bubba, and Albanese Elected to Board of Education

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.

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