Joshua Thomas, current Board of Education member for District 2 and an Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate, has withdrawn his name from the ballot as of August 15. Thomas, who is finishing his first term and fourth year on the board, said he would be releasing an official statement in the next couple of weeks, but speaking with the Greenbelt News Review last week, he cited a combination of personal and professional factors influencing his decision to withdraw from the race six months after he filed to run for re-election. Thomas said these considerations included his career plans, the political nature of the board and how he wishes to use his time in the next four years. He emphasized, however, that the reasons behind his decision are all positive ones, and said he is in good spirits: “on my way out with only good feelings.”
Candidates for Position
There are now two candidates vying to be the District 2 representative on the board. District 2 includes Greenbelt, College Park, East Riverdale and New Carrollton, among other communities.
Greenbelter Jenni Pompi has been running against Thomas to represent District 2 since the spring. According to her website, Pompi is a former PTA president and advocate, a Prince George’s County resident of over 25 years and has had children in District 2 schools more than 10 years.
On August 25, another Greenbelt resident, Jonathan Briggs, entered the race. Speaking with the News Review, Briggs said he has a background in politics, education policy and classroom education, having worked in Chicago and Kansas City public schools. Briggs described himself as an acquaintance of Thomas, and he entered the race 10 days after Thomas withdrew.
In the coming weeks, the Greenbelt News Review will run profiles of these two candidates for the Board of Education and others running for local elections.