Four candidates will vie for three seats on the Ocean City Board of Education in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The following candidates will be on the ballot:
- Dale F. Braun Jr. (see below)
- Joseph S. Clark Jr. (see profile)
- Cecelia Gallelli-Keyes (see profile)
- Michael Allan James (see profile)
Clark and Gallelli-Keyes are incumbents. The other vacant seat is currently held by Tiffany Prettyman, who will not run in the election.
The school board includes nine members from Ocean City, who are elected to three-year terms in staggered years, and three members from Upper Township, who are appointed to one-year terms.
Traditionally held in the spring, school elections moved to November in Ocean City in 2012. The ballot will include Congressional and Cape May County candidates, as well as school board candidates.
The following is a candidate profile for Dale F. Braun Jr. Profiles for other candidates will appear in subsequent days. The candidates were asked to complete biographical and brief platform information in their own words.
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Name: Dale F. Braun, Jr.
Age: 50
Education: B.S. in Business Administration/Accounting, Drexel University, Class of 1987
No. of years lived in Ocean City: 4.5 years after vacationing here for 17 years
Family in school system: Emily, grade 4; Victoria, Ocean City High School Class of 2013
Occupation: Stay-at-home father. Retired after 25 years in banking, as an executive officer, SVP and controller.
Public service: Currently — Shore Medical Center volunteer, St. Damien religious education program, St. Damien eucharistic minister, Primary School Book Fair, OCHS after-prom., OCPTA. Previously, all with Bishop McDevitt High School in Glenside, Pa — Member of Financial Development Advisory Board, chairman of the Annual Giving Campaign, founding member of the Alumni Association, first Treasurer of Association, chairman of various committees, including By-Laws, member of Alumni Hall of Fame..
Three issues you think are most important:
- Decisions being based and weighed on what is best for the children, best for the parents, and best for the taxpayers of Ocean City.
- Decisions ensuring that Ocean City remains a strong, viable community with a great school system, which in turn, attracts families, the next generation of residents.
- Continue the working partnership with the city and various organizations to achieve common, desired goals in a cost-effective manner.
What you would like voters to know about you and your vision for the board?
A strong school district is an important ingredient to the continued success of a community. Since this school district was an important reason for our family to relocate here permanently, I hope to continue the great work that our board has achieved.
