Area school districts will hold their school board elections on May 19, with some races contested on crowded ballots and others featuring long-time unchallenged incumbents.
In the Mineola Union Free School District, several challengers have emerged to contest two available at-large school board seats. The seats are currently occupied by Trustees Margaret Ballantyne, who is seeking re-election, and Patrick Talty, who is not.
After a contentious school year, during which boardtransparency was questionedand former Superintendent MichaelNagler resignedafter an investigation into his involvement in theBuild Your Own Gradeprogram, six newcomers and one incumbent are running for the seats. All candidates are present or former district parents.
The candidates areCarla Anelante, ahousing and healthcare administratorand career nanny;Margaret Ballantyne, the incumbent with several years on the Mineola School Board;Bob Citro, who works in insurancewith large budgetsand fiscal transparency;Stephen Loewenthal, an attorney who works in administrative law for the State of New York;Alecia Pace, an author with years of experience in parent-teacher associations;Ana Senra-Silva, an educator with biology and science degrees andStacey Tyson, a former private-sector lawyer who most recently has15 years of experiencein the New York City School Construction Authority working with procurement and financial transparency.
The most recent board election, in 2025, had a turnout of about 600, according to the district.
In the Herricks Union Free School District, five challengers are running for the two seats vacated by Trustees James Gounaris and Henry Zanetti, who are not seeking reelection.
The candidates for Gounaris’s seat are Lisa Iuculano and Eric Lo, a financial advisor who hasrun in the districtbefore. For Zanetti’s seat, the candidates are Nidhi Guru, neurologistRitech Ramdhani, andAthul Santhoush, a recent graduate.
The most recent board election had a turnout of about 800, according to the district.
In the East Williston Union Free School District, Board President Mark Kamberg is running unopposed for re-election. He said he has been working at the district for 18 years, 16 of which were spent as board president. He said his campaign centers on three principles: experience, stability and commitment.
“Over nearly two decades, I have helped guide long-term planning, including developing our district’s strategic direction and supporting academic excellence, real-world learning, and the social and emotional well-being of every student,” he said.
Source: LI Press
