Budgets, higher taxes, pass in Lawrence and H-W

Two new trustees were elected to the District 15 school board on Tuesday, ending bitter contests that divided the Orthodox community in the Five Towns. Voters also endorsed, by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, a new $93 million spending plan that will result in a three percent tax increase.

Atlantic Beach resident Jesse Lunin-Pack — who promoted himself as “the only candidate with kids in the Lawrence public schools” — drew 1,610 votes to defeat Tova Plaut of Cedarhurst (1,184 votes) and Dov Herman of Woodmere (840), to succeed Dr. Solomon Blisko on the Board of Education. Blisko declined to run again.

Challenger Michael Hatten — who previously served on the board from 2006 to 2009 — defeated incumbent Rabbi Nahum Marcus, 1,798 to 1,188. Juan Zapeda, whose name was on the ballot but who decided not to run after submitting his candidate petition, collected 491 votes. “This is a board with remarkable accomplishments that is the envy of every district,” Hatten said. “I look to continue that good work and represent the entire district.”

Superintendent Gary Schall cautioned that “this is an unofficial count.”

“We have impounded the machines, and the votes will be recounted by the Board of Elections. There might possibly be a discrepancy,” Schall said.

Running unopposed was longtime incumbent Dr. David Sussman. He was re-elected with 2,192 votes.

The budget vote in District 14, Hewlett-Woodmere, was 1,295 to 998 in favor of a $109.6 million spending plan. The anticipated tax levy increase is 3.45 percent, with a tax levy just over $97 million. The Lawrence budget vote was 2,081 to 744, generating $83 million in lax levy funds.

Hewlett-Woodmere residents also approved the use of $463,360 from the capital reserve fund, by a count of 1,275 to 851. The money will be applied to several technology upgrades throughout the district. 

The District 14 trustee election had three candidates seeking to fill two seats.

Incumbent Harold Kislik was re-elected to a fourth term with 1,409 votes, and Mitchell Greebel won with 1,541. For the second consecutive year, Fred Usherson lost a bid to be a trustee, drawing 633 votes.