By JACQUELINE DURETT
Correspondent
EDISON — Nilesh Dasondi has withdrawn from the Edison Board of Education race.
Dasondi, who spent six months in a federal prison after a conviction for money laundering in connection with an illegal fraud scheme, released a statement that indicated the controversy around his conviction had prompted his decision.
Those who had opposed his candidacy included Edison Democratic Organization Chairman Keith Hahn, who publicly announced he did not support Dasondi’s decision to run. Dasondi had been a prominent figure in the EDO under the EDO’s former chairman, Thomas “Doc” Paterniti. Dasondi had previously served on the township’s zoning board.
“I have decided to withdraw as a candidate from the Edison Board of Education election on Nov. 8th, after careful consideration and after speaking to my family, close friends and many supporters,” he said in a prepared statement. “Unfortunately, there has been too much unjustified, unwarranted and negative media attention about my candidacy.”
To serve on any board of education in New Jersey, a person must pass a criminal background check by the Criminal History Review Unit of the Department of Education and submit fingerprints. Dasondi said when he filed his petition, he had contacted a representative of the Criminal History Review Unit, “who advised me that my conviction was not on the statutory list of disqualifying offenses.”
However, according to that office, the Department of Education sent a letter dated Aug. 16 addressed to attorney David Rubin in Metuchen regarding Dasondi. The letter, signed by Carl H. Carabelli, manager of the Criminal History Review Unit, said his conviction would in fact disqualify him from serving on the board of education. The letter also said that if Dasondi were to go through the formal criminal history review process and the determination was the same, he would be free to appeal that decision.
Following the release of his statement, Dasondi said he did not receive any such letter from the state. However, in his formal statement, he did say he would be escalating clarification around his eligibility. “Nevertheless, I do not wish there to be any question about my ability to serve, if elected, and have determined to pursue a formal legal ruling from the Commissioner of Education on my eligibility to run in the future, rather than run this time with a legal cloud hanging over the process.”
Dasondi said in spite of his choice to withdraw, he still feels he is qualified to serve on the board and that his business experience would enable him to be a watchdog for Edison taxpayers who could “balance the uncontrolled school board budget and cut down the wasteful expenses.”
In addition to his plan to pursue a formal ruling from the commissioner of education, he said he also plans to “continue to be an active community leader and a conscientious local businessman.”
Dasondi’s withdrawal from the race reduces the number of Edison Board of Education candidates to four: William Araujo, Richard Brescher, Xiaohan “Shannon” Peng and incumbent Theresa E. Ward. They are vying for the three open seats.
