5 will run for 4 seats on Charleroi school board

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Five candidates will battle for four seats on the Charleroi Area School Board this November.

Incumbents Barbara Pepper, Thomas Nutting, Joseph Caruso and Ken Wiltz all sought re-election and came out on top on the Democratic ticket against newcomers Evonne Henderson, Michael Ciserano, Nick Bongiorno and Melanie Lauritzen.

Caruso was the top-vote getter on the Democratic ballot earning 922 votes, followed by Pepper with 847, Wiltz with 826 and Nutting with 756, according to unofficial results.

On the Republican ticket, Caruso came out on top again with 520, followed by Pepper who received 488 votes, Bongiorno, a newcomer, who received 454 votes and Wiltz, who received 447 votes.

All four incumbents have served together for several years and were hoping to secure seats to the board this fall to continue the work the started over the past several years.

Caruso, 68, of Fallowfield Township was elected to the board in 2012 and wants to continue to use his experience as a coach to put student needs first, focus on rebuilding infrastructure and keeping finances on track.

His fellow incumbent, Nutting, 72, has served as a board member for six years. A long-time educator, Nutting said he has used his time to make sure the needs of teachers, students and their families are met inside and outside of the classroom.

Wiltz, 76, of Fallowfield Township has served on the board for 45 years, and as chairman for the past 18.

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