Second Candidate Withdraws From BOE Race

And then there were nine.

A second candidate this week has dropped from the race for a Board of Education seat.

Michael Manson, of Grove Street has withdrawn his candidacy, Manson said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Manson said he notified the board office Wednesday morning that he will not be seeking a term on the Board of Education.

Manson, a teacher in another district, said he thought the remaining candidates challenging three incumbents for seats on the board would serve the community well.

"I have respect for all of them,'' Manson said. "And we're all working for the same thing. They're all qualified, and I'm very confident in their abilities.''

Manson said he was not endorsing any candidate over another. He also said that he has not ruled out a run for the school board in the future.

The move leaves nine candidates vying for four seats on the board in next month's election, and it follows the withdrawal of .

Both Manson and Meechan were critics of the school board's.

The schools election is scheduled for April 27.

Incumbents David Wren, 3243 Rambling Hill Ct., Douglas Wild, 2131 Old Mill Rd., and Pamela Perrotto, 2315 Xanadu Ln., have filed to run to retain their seats. It was unclear Wednesday whether the trio would be running as a slate.

Challenging them will be a slightly less numerous parcel of newcomers:

Robin Cervantes, 2009 Tally Ho Dr.; Timothy Farrell, 1601 Walton Way;  Anne Moonan, 1910 Sherwood Dr.; Joseph Tonzola, 2400 Lincoln Ave.; Micheal Tranberg, 1604 Dubac Rd.; and John Tavis, 1610 Holly Blvd.

Tavis, Tranberg and Perotto will run for a one-year unexpired term of former board member Michael Bogner, who resigned in July, 2010.

Cervantes, Farrell, Moonan, Tonzola, Wren and Wild are all running for full, three-year terms.