Alum Dominic Sama, Running For Long Branch Board Of Education

Dominic Sama is allied with current Long Branch school board president Violeta Peters, Board vice president Joseph Ferraina and board member Raymond Garland.

Provide a brief bio on yourself. Age, education, occupation.

My name is Dominic Sama. I am a proud grandson of Italian immigrants, a 22-year-old current college student, and a lifelong resident of Long Branch, New Jersey. I am running for the unexpired one-year term on the Long Branch Board of Education. I am in my final year of my undergraduate studies at Montclair State University and currently hold an associates degree from Brookdale Community College, where I had the distinct honor to serve as President of Student Government. In addition to being a full-time college student and school board candidate, I am employed full-time at the local passenger ferry service that serves the Monmouth County area.

Do you have children in the district or formerly in the district?

I myself am a recent graduate of the Long Branch Public School District, which I believe is the kind of experience that is much needed on the school board at this time.

What experience do you have that would make you a good BOE member?

Even as a younger school board candidate, I have several previous experiences that prove me to be a capable school board member who can represent the best interests of the community. As stated, my valuable experience as a recent student of the Long Branch Public Schools will serve me well in the coming year, as I can provide a fresh set of ideas and proposals that can be considered and utilized by the collective school board as we continue to advance forward into the future.

I also believe that my experience as a state legislative intern shows that I have experience in policy making, constituent relations, and an understanding of legislative processes affecting education. Lastly, I firmly believe that my leadership experience as Brookdale Student Body President and Long Branch Figli Di Colombo Vice President shows that I already have experience staying active in local community activities, representing others, making tough decisions, and keeping an open communication between leadership and the greater community.

For current school board members, what is some of the work you’re proudest of that the Board has done?

Not applicable as I am not an incumbent Board Member.

Where do you think the Board needs to improve? This is for both current BOE members and those not on the Board.

I think that the Board most definitely needs to improve on its transparency with the constituents of Long Branch, whether it means taking in more input or better communicating to the residents of the city.

Looking ahead, what are some of the biggest challenges facing the Long Branch school district in the next 2-5 years, and how do you plan to confront them?

Some of the biggest challenges immediately facing the Long Branch Public Schools include making strategic budgetary decisions, dealing with artificial intelligence, increasing mental health services, and enhancing safety for students and staff. I plan to confront these challenges by allowing outside input from anyone who has the best intentions and whoever thinks that they could be of assistance to help the school board make the best decisions that best suit the development of the students in every way.

Voters will be asked to choose three for a three-year term:

• Julio A. Rivas
• Michael Zimmermann
• Jon R. Zimmerman
• Violeta Peters – current Board president, seeks re-election
• Raymond Garland
• Joseph M. Ferraina – current Board vice president, seeks re-election

There is also a one-year term, voters will be asked to choose one:

• Dominic Sama, Moving Forward Together
• Jason DeSantis

The election is Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at the Long Branch campus of Brookdale Community College 213 Broadway, second floor, Long Branch, NJ 07740, from Oct. 26 – Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary, according to the state of NJ Division of Elections. And there is also mail-in voting.