Election critical for Middletown

The situation involving the Middletown Board of Education grows more complicated by the day.

Board President Patricia Walsh, the only incumbent to seek re-election, has now withdrawn, leaving voters to fill four seats — almost half of the board — with new, inexperienced members.

As you will read below, Walsh decided to pull out of the race to give voters an opportunity for a new beginning.

In keeping with the recommendations of mediator Ronald Riccio, she seeks to bury any residue of animosity on the board’s leadership side and challenges the Middletown Township Education Association leaders to do the same.

The board, meanwhile, is seeking binding arbitration to iron out the final details of a four-year settlement.

At the same time, the public is urging members to move quickly to get the new contract in place.

With only five weeks left before the April 16 school election, time is of the essence. It is also critical at this juncture that you, the voters, become well-informed about the candidates. Your votes have never been more important than they will be on April 16.