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Schools

Nazareth School Board Race Pits Incumbent vs. Incumbent

Board president Lorin Bradley and 19-year-old Jacob Allen vie for two-year seat; both men lost in May primary but now have another chance.

In the election race this year between Nazareth School Board incumbents Jacob Allen and Lorin Bradley, the theme might be referred to as “second chance."

Allen, who was in June -- the same month he graduated from -- will appear on the Democratic ticket. Bradley, the current board president, will run as a Republican.

The winner will fill a two-year seat, representing the district's Region One, which includes Bushkill Township, Tatamy and a portion of Palmer Township.

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That did not seem likely in May, when both men lost their election bids in the primary. They trailed incumbent and challenger in a race to fill two available four-year seats. (Butz and Miller will appear on both party lines, but they are virtually assured a seat after Tuesday's election.)

Then opportunity knocked.

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Board member when he moved out of Region One, just weeks after the primary. The board selected Allen, who submitted the only letter of interest, to fill Marino's seat through Nov. 30.

State law mandates that the remaining two years of Marino's term be placed on the ballot on Tuesday, with the county committees of the two major parties tasked with nominating candidates.

The Northampton County Republican Committee chose Bradley, while Allen got the nod from the county Democratic Committee.

Whoever wins the two-year seat on Tuesday will remain on the school board, while the loser will leave the board as of Dec. 1.

Both candidates cite controlling the district budget in hard financial times and the search for a worthy successor to as key goals for the near future.

“We absolutely need to make sure we [identify] the best candidate to replace the superintendent,” Bradley said. “We need to make sure it's a good fit: seamless.”

Allen agreed. In an e-mail to Patch, he wrote:

“We, as a board, need to search for a new superintendent with due diligence, taking into consideration the needs of all stakeholders including administrators, teachers, students, parents and the community with our primary focus on educating the students and applying fiscal responsibility at the same time.”

, 19, says he plans to continue to work for the greater good of the students, the district and the community, no matter the results of the election.

“I am most proud that I have had the opportunity to serve the students and community of the district and that I have cast votes and helped to make decisions to ensure the financial stability of the district,” he said.

Allen, a student at , started to attend Nazareth School Board meetings as a high school freshman. That inspired him to run for a board seat himself earlier this year, while still a high school senior, he said. He is widely believed to be the youngest sitting school board director in the state.

, 47, is a father of seven -- all former or current Blue Eagles. He was elected to the school board four years ago and has served as board president for the past year.

He said he sees his service on the board as part of his wide-ranging community involvement, which includes Scouting, youth sports, volunteer efforts and church activities.

“It's very rewarding,” he said.

Bradley is director of Labor and Employee Relations U.S. at Merck.

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