Latino representation is likely to come to an end on the Norristown Area School Board, writes Katie Bernard for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
This comes even though Latino students make up half the district’s population. Incumbent board president Chris Jaramillo and board member Tessi Ruiz launched a write-in campaign after being removed from the Democratic primary ballot over paperwork issues. Still, the runway ran too short, and the paperwork issues proved too steep.
Votes for their campaign fell short, clearing the path for a new slate backed by local Democrats. The slate, comprising Bill Caldwell, Cynthia Davenport, Terell Dale, Jeremiah Lenke, and Jordan Alexander, is racially diverse and includes LGBTQ representation, but lacks Latino candidates.
With no Republican opposition, the group is expected to take office unopposed.
Jaramillo says he will not run as an independent. He pointed to a border political dynamic at play, including his opposition to a tax break for a senior housing project tied to a donor of local Democrat leadership.
While the incoming board promises to advocate for all students, some Latino leaders worry about losing momentum in family engagement and community trust.
To read more about the Norristown Area School Board and issues surrounding representation, check out the Philadelphia Inquirer.
