Four-person landslide in Lawrence election

The visible campaign paid off as the joint ticket led by Asher Mansdorf, Murray Forman, Jeffrey Leb, and Sarah Yastrab, won by a huge margin over their challengers. Lawrence School District trustee Forman, was reelected by a vote of 3,319 to challenger Nicole Di Iorio’s 2,199. Mansdorf defeated Gwynn Campbell by 3,256 to 1,903. Mansdorf and Forman ran on a platform opposing further tax hikes, while reducing the budget by nearly one percent. Voters approved this $93.1 million budget, which is expected to result in an annual decrease of $96 in school property taxes for the average homeowner.

In the library election, the incumbents were ousted by nearly identical margins, reflecting the strength of this joint ticket. Challenger Jeff Leb defeated incumbent Stanley Nussbaum by 3,240 to 1,415, for the five-year term. Woodmere resident Sarah Yastrab defeated Inwood resident Patricia Pope for the one-year trustee seat by a margin of 3,255 to 1,343. The proposed library budget of $2,912,490 was passed by the voters.

“It was a great feeling to have the people come out and vote. The voters want reform and accountability,” said Leb. Looking back at Mansdorf and Forman’s support of his run, Leb said that it made a crucial difference in earning the trust of the electorate. “They’ve done great things for the school board and I share their same goals.”