The Alternative Press

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - The first announced group of candidates for the upcoming South Orange Board of Trustees election, the "South Orange 2013" ticket, consisting of Sheena Collum, Stephen Schnall, and Walter Clarke, have been certified as official candidates. On Wednesday, the team jointly submitted 550 Petitions of Nomination and on Thursday, Village Clerk Robin Kline informed the group that their petitions were “fully reviewed and deemed complete.”

The South Orange 2013 team also announced the appointment of Reverend Sandye Wilson as Campaign Manager and Michael Auer as Treasurer.  Wilson is the rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and Holy Communion as well as a member of the Village’s Planning Board. Auer is a local Realtor who also serves as the chair of Citizens Budget Advisory Committee and on the South Orange Village Center Alliance's Business Recruitment and Retention Team.

In a prepared release, candidate Sheena Collum said, “We’re off to a fast start and plan to keep running through to the finish line. We’ve begun to solicit feedback, ideas, and input from many residents and businesses as part of our plan to create the most inclusive local government that South Orange has ever seen. We can’t do it alone and we look forward to continuing to work with our many friends, neighbors and fellow Villagers throughout town to advance our common goals.” 

In the same prepared release, candidate Walter Clarke said, “This campaign is not just about the three of us and what we have to say about the town.  We’re trying to engage people who are not usually involved with town affairs and encourage them to become active community volunteers. I guess you can say we don’t want this effort to be your typical local election.”

The deadline for prospective candidates to submit petitions to the township clerk is Monday, March 11.