Seven File to Run for Three Plainfield Board of Education Seats

By Monday's 4 p.m. filing deadline, seven candidates submitted their petitions to run for the Plainfield Board of Education. The election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Three candidates are running on the Empowerment Through Education slate. Incumbent Terence Johnson will head the slate, joined by newcomers Natasha Dabney and Priscila Rosas. Johnson has served two nonconsecutive three-year terms on the Board of Education, from 2018 through 2020 and from 2024 through 2026.

Three candidates are running under the Change for Progress slate: Jansel Fuentes, Roxanne Robinson, and John C. Campbell Sr. Fuentes ran unsuccessfully for the board last year. Campbell is a former Board of Education commissioner who was first appointed as a replacement for part of 2015 before being elected to two consecutive terms, serving from 2016 through 2021.

Independent candidate Azim Gray is running with the slogan Integrity and Education. Gray is a former Board of Education commissioner who served from 2023 through 2025 and lost a re-election bid last year, when he ran on a slate with Jansel Fuentes.

Incumbents Eric Andrews and Sincere Malone will not run for re-election. Malone became the youngest person elected to Plainfield's Board of Education in 2023. After filling an unexpired term for 2019, Andrews served two consecutive terms on the board from 2020 through 2026.

A drawing will be held later in the summer to determine which slate appears first, second, and third on the ballot. In 2018, Union County eliminated the office-box design and now uses a design for June primary elections that allows slates to list candidates in a column or line.

Find more Plainfield education news and community information on Union County Life.

FAQ

Q: When is the Plainfield Board of Education election?
A: The election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Q: How many candidates are running?
A: Seven candidates submitted their petitions by the filing deadline.

Q: What are the three slates running?
A: The three slates are Empowerment Through Education, Change for Progress, and Independent candidate Azim Gray running with the slogan Integrity and Education.

Q: Who is running on the Empowerment Through Education slate?
A: Terence Johnson (incumbent), Natasha Dabney (newcomer), and Priscila Rosas (newcomer) are running on this slate.

Q: What is Terence Johnson's Board of Education experience?
A: Johnson has served two nonconsecutive three-year terms on the Board of Education, from 2018 through 2020 and from 2024 through 2026.

Q: Who is running on the Change for Progress slate?
A: Jansel Fuentes, Roxanne Robinson, and John C. Campbell Sr. are running on this slate.

Q: What is John C. Campbell Sr.'s Board of Education experience?
A: Campbell is a former Board of Education commissioner who was first appointed as a replacement for part of 2015 before being elected to two consecutive terms, serving from 2016 through 2021.

Q: Who is running as an independent candidate?
A: Azim Gray is running as an independent with the slogan Integrity and Education. He is a former Board of Education commissioner who served from 2023 through 2025.

Q: Which incumbents are not running for re-election?
A: Eric Andrews and Sincere Malone will not seek re-election. Malone became the youngest person ever elected to Plainfield's Board of Education in 2023.

Q: Will the ballot order be different this year?
A: A drawing will be held later in the summer to determine which slate appears first, second, and third on the ballot.

Q: Where can I find more information about Plainfield schools and education?
A: Union County Life covers Plainfield education news and elections. Visit unioncountylife.com for more school information and community news.