From one to three: East Northport’s Carl Lawrence joins race for BOE trustee as write-in
East Northport resident Carl Lawrence announced over the weekend that he will be joining the race for BOE trustee as a write-in. Photo courtesy of Carl Lawrence.
What started as an unusual – and uncontested – election for at least one seat on the Northport-East Northport Board of Education has become a contest between three candidates, with East Northport resident Carl Lawrence announcing on Saturday, May 9 that he would be entering the race as a write-in candidate.
Who fills the two open trustee seats will be decided next Tuesday, May 19, at the annual budget vote and trustee election.
With one child in Pulaski Road Elementary and the other at East Northport Middle School, Lawrence believes he can offer an important perspective as a board member. “There’s this opportunity now to be a trustee on the board of education while my sons are actually in the district,” he said in a conversation with the Journal. “I can see how these things – what a board does – actually play out in schools in almost real time. This is a great opportunity and I’d be a fool not to at least try for it.”
Lawrence joined the race just about a week after the United Teachers of Northport endorsed fellow East Northporter Mark Zaharis for the board, also as a write-in. Trustee Donna McNaughton, who is seeking reelection, was the only candidate to submit her nominating petition by the April 20 deadline, which originally left the district in a peculiar situation, with fewer candidates running than open seats on the board.
A senior paralegal in the commercial litigation sector, Lawrence went through the NEN school district from kindergarten though high school. He returned to East Northport after a stint in Queens, purchasing a house just blocks away from his childhood home in 2020. “I've experienced the district firsthand. I loved growing up here. I loved going to these schools. I mean, one of the reasons we were so excited that we got the house we got was because my son was going to get to go to the same elementary school that I did,” he said.
Lawrence said the decision to run as a write-in came together fairly quickly. Aware that there was just one registered candidate for two seats, the father of two saw an opening to continue the community work he started since moving back to East Northport, but in a different way.
A member of the PTA for each of the schools his sons have attended (Dickinson, Pulaski and East Northport Middle), Lawrence has also been involved in SEPTA alongside his wife, Kim. He served both as Pulaski’s PTA council representative and one of the district’s health and safety representatives. During that time, he witnessed the reciprocal relationship between the board and PTA, with PTA members informing board members of the happenings at each school, student needs and any issues that arose.
“One of the best measures of the health of a community is the health and happiness of its children. And if I can play a part in doing that and ensuring that for our kids – and for everyone’s kids – I think I would be doing something good,” he said.
The annual budget vote and board of education trustee election will take place from 6am to 9pm on Tuesday, May 19. Voter information, including how and where to vote, can be found here. A previous Journal article on write-in candidate Mark Zaharis can be found here, and the district’s Meet the Candidates newsletter detailing incumbent Donna McNaughton’s work and goals for the district can be found here.
As per the district newsletter, only Donna McNaughton’s name will be printed on the trustee election ballot: “Voters may cast their ballot for two candidates, including the candidate whose name is printed on the ballot and/or individuals whose names are handwritten in by the voter.”
A Meet the Candidates night hosted by the NENPTA Council is scheduled for tomorrow, May 13 at 7pm in the Brosnan building and will feature McNaughton only. Write-in candidates are ineligible to participate. The Journal is awaiting response from the write-in candidates regarding their stances on district issues and will share when if and available.
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