News Release 10/6/13

PERTH AMBOY – Both Perth Amboy City Councilman Kenneth Gonzalez and Board of Education Candidate Benjamin Salerno regrettably announce today that they are discontinuing their public support of the re-election bid of School Board President Mark Carvajal.

“I believe that Mr. Carvajal has led the Board during some tumultuous times this past year. I further recognize that he handled with great sensitivity the placing of Superintendent Caffrey on administrative leave, which on balance appears to have been a sad necessity, inasmuch as Dr. Caffrey had become a lightning rod of issues. Clearly, the Board was repeatedly placed in an untenable position of trying to contend with Dr. Caffrey’s often unpopular decisions. However, for unrelated personal reasons, I must regrettably withdraw my further support of Mr. Carvajal. Additionally, I am effective immediately resigning as his Campaign Manager. I am however going to continue to advocate and support the election of local Police Officer and Democratic Committeeman Benjamin Salerno who I believe will be an excellent Board member if elected by the voters in November,” said Gonzalez.

“I wish Mr. Carvajal the best in his personal endeavors, but I believe that the time has come to part ways with him. I will continue to ask the public to vote for me on Tuesday, Nov. 5.  As a parent with children in the school district I believe that I will be able to help bring the focus of the Board back to the students of Perth Amboy rather than the infighting that has dominated so much of the District’s time,” said Salerno.