Note: This information is simply to assist in making assessments of the candidates on one simple rubric - a Q&A published by a local news outlet. Factors involved in voting are many and varied. Make your own voting decisions accordingly. This site does not support any particular candidate for the 2025 Hoboken Board of Education election but encourages everyone eligible to vote.
Leslie Norwood
Norwood demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of governance, ethics, and strategic planning. Her emphasis on data-driven improvement, fiscal responsibility, and student-centered decision-making stands out. She links her professional expertise in finance and infrastructure law directly to district needs, reflecting both analytical skill and ethical stewardship. Her service on multiple boards, her proactive pursuit of NJSBA certification, and her advocacy for literacy training show deep commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. Norwood embodies nearly every quality of an effective trustee—visionary, collaborative, and grounded in ethics.
Antonio Graña
Graña’s combination of long-term public service, experience on the state legislative subcommittee on PILOTs, and current BOE leadership positions him as a strong, experienced policymaker. His responses show strategic thinking, particularly on facilities expansion and intergovernmental collaboration. While less detailed on community engagement, his data-oriented and policy-driven approach fits the trustee profile well. His refusal to politicize national issues also reflects integrity and professionalism, though his lack of transparency on his vote slightly weakens his openness rating.
Elizabeth “Lizy” Velez
Velez brings strong advocacy skills, professional discipline as a litigator, and genuine empathy rooted in her work with special education families. Her support for inclusive practices (like collaborative team teaching) demonstrates creativity and student-centered vision. While newer to governance, her responses indicate analytical rigor, ethical awareness, and a deep respect for process and community engagement. With more board experience, she could become a top-tier trustee.
Laura Block
Block offers sincere commitment and community involvement but lacks the strategic and policy-oriented depth of the top three. Her answers are earnest and focused on facilities and inclusivity, but they remain general. She’d bring valuable parent perspective and collaborative spirit, yet her responses suggest limited experience in data-driven or fiscal governance.
Tim Smith
Smith’s community engagement and listening focus are commendable, but his answers show limited understanding of board responsibilities, governance ethics, or fiscal policy. His resistance to universal free lunch and emphasis on “listening” over decision-making suggest a reactive, not visionary, approach. He appears earnest and community-minded but underprepared for the complex, policy-level responsibilities of a trustee.
