Mara Franceschi is the only Princeton school board member whose three-year term ends at the end of 2024 who is seeking another term. Incumbents Betsy Baglio and Brian McDonald are not seeking another term on the Princeton Board of Education. McDonald is seeking a seat on the Princeton Council and ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The Democrats have not had a competitive primary in Princeton for four straight years now.

Six candidates are vying for three three-year terms on the school board. Franceschi, who lives on Greenhouse Drive, is seeking her second term. The five newcomers seeking seats are:

Christopher Santarpio of Nassau Street

Ari Meisel of Hamilton Avenue

Erica Snyder of Lawrenceville Road

Z Lisa Potter of Gordon Way

Shenwei Zhao of Prospect Avenue

Princeton has one of the most competitive school board races in the county this year. the only other municipality with six candidates is Robbinsville. Read the full list of school board candidates in Mercer County here:
https://planetprinceton.com/2024/07/30/the-full-list-of-school-board-candidates-in-mercer-county-for-the-2024-general-election-in-november/

Planet Princeton will be sending out questionnaires to candidates for background information and will publish responses in the coming week. We will also host a virtual candidate forum via Zoom and share the recording with readers.

Krystal Knapp

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.