Lisa Becker, Denise Pilovsky, Kevin Scully, Lauren Sarno & Rafael Adorno were all sworn in as Board Members of the Barnegat School District during a packed Board of Education meeting this Monday night. The people of Barnegat want change and they're starting to get it. This past November, controversial Committeeman J.J. Novak was soundly defeated by Dorothy Ryan, and now all 5 challengers for this April's B.O.E. were swept into office. The people of Barnegat are demanding leaders who are accountable, fiscally sound, and respectful to the people they serve. Positive change has started, and we all have much to be proud of.

The newspapers say that negative campaign literature like the "Bandits" postcard and the garbage bigoted material that the Republican Committemen have endorsed in the past is simply and example of "Barnegat politics." The people of Barnegat say we are better than that...and their votes in the last two elections is proof that we have PRIDE. The people of Barnegat have had enough and reject the poor image that Barnegat is portrayed to have in the press.

It was especially nice to see Lisa Becker take her seat on the Board. Her journey from school volunteer, to critic, to blogger, to being barred as a volunteer, to now sitting on the Board is stuff worthy of a Hollywood movie. Mrs. Becker should be very proud of herself -- as many of those in attendance were -- as she was named the Board's new Vice President. Robert A. Houser is the new President.

Now the hard work starts. With the support of the people and accountable leadership things are looking more positive in Barnegat. The once "sleeping giant" has officially woken up -- and let's hope stays awake -- until at least this November.