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“I was running against two slates last year, so there was a voting bloc,” said Soporowski the day after the election. “And I was an unknown name. I feel like I got my name out there last year and I did not give up. I’ve been to every Board of Ed. meeting since.”

But what, specifically, counted for such a sudden — and unexpected — surge in Soporowski’s popularity? And, assuming Farley is not saved by mail-ins, why did she fail to hold onto her seat?

Was it the transgender student lawsuit? In October, Soporowski and Wright were the only two candidates to criticize the Middletown school board for passing a policy requiring schools inform parents if a child changed their name, pronoun or bathroom use.

Middletown unnecessarily provoked the state, Wright and Soporowski argue. NJ Attorney General Matt Platkin promptly sued and the lawsuit is still not resolved; the school district continues to pay its lawyers to fight the state.

“We could have waited and done it more thoughtfully,” said Soporowski Wednesday. “In my opinion, it was pushed for so they could have it ready for campaign materials. And now we’re stuck with it.”

“It boils down to billable hours at the end of the day,” he continued. “Kate Farley is a lawyer — why did she not step back and say hey, are we pushing a political agenda here? Their scheme did not work out and the taxpayers have seen through it.”

Was it Middletown’s cell phone “ban”?

It was Farley, strongly backed by Jacqueline Tobacco, who first introduced the idea this summer of not letting Middletown kids use their cell phones in class. But Farley’s idea was not immediately embraced. Many Middletown parents said they need to be able to reach their students during the day. And what if there was a school shooting? It was Board president Frank Capone who told Farley in a July school board meeting she had to revise her cell phone proposal.

“Yes, people did tell me when I knocked on doors they don’t like it (the cell phone policy),” said Soporowski. “You have single parents who may need more access to their child. The policy needs to be revised to fit the needs of all the community, and not just one size fits all. It’s too strict; you can almost compare it to when the kids had to wear masks.”

Are Farley and Weinstein not … approachable?

“I don’t think Kate and Sara did anything. They went to fancy parties with (Middletown mayor) Tony Perry and the board lawyer. I don’t think they were the approachable candidates,” said Soporowski.

“I was at every event,” he said. “And Joan is incredibly approachable. You can go up to her and talk to her about anything, ask her anything. I am really excited to work with her and learn from her.”

Soporwoski also accused Farley, Tobacco and Weinstein of having a clubby or cliquish relationship with Middletown school board lawyer Bruce Padula. (Padula helped write the transgender policy that got the district sued, and he is also the lawyer representing Middletown in its legal battle against the state.)

“I don’t like how close the lawyer is personally with some of the board members,” said Soporowski. “It is very concerning to me. I think we need to bring in a new or outside counsel.”

Or is it just Middletown’s ever-increasing property taxes?

Soporowski said in all his door knocking, Middletown voters told him most frequently: “They are upset about our taxes. They are continually going up. Streamlining the budget without cutting services was part of my pitch.”

And don’t forget Soporowski was strongly pushed by Joe Fitzgerald, a school board member who has fashioned himself as the political rival of the Tobacco/Capone/Farley alliance.

Patch asked Fitzgerald why he orchestrated a power shift on the Middletown BOE.

“There was too much of a power dynamic on the school board; I thought it needed to be broken up a bit,” Fitzgerald said. “We need diverse people on the board who think different. I really just want the board to get along. I do not want to divide the board; I am actually trying to cool down the board.”

What happens next? Unless Farley somehow surges ahead with mail-in votes and knocks off Wright, Soporowski will take her seat in January. Wright and Minnuies will hold onto their seats.

Soporowski said Capone called him Wednesday morning and congratulated him on the win.

“We had a very nice conversation. I am happy for Joan and, assuming she wins, I am happy for Deb Wright as well,” said Soporowski. “I think we have a good mix on the board going into January. I think we should be a board that all goes out for dinner with each other. We don’t have to be best friends, but let’s get something accomplished.”

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Weinstein conceded Wednesday, saying:

“Given our ballot position during a very high turn-out election, where many voters were not focused on the BOE, we feel proud that all of our votes were earned. Thank you to our supporters! We wish the very best to the winners.”

She also said this: “I think disparaging people that run for an unpaid position to help children speaks volumes about a person’s character. It saddens me that this is a person that is now going to help make important decisions for our district. I would never do something like that, nor will I, even after having my character assassinated in this way. As previously stated, I wish the winners the best and hope they make decisions with children’s best interests at heart, not their spite.”

Tobacco, Capone and Padula did not respond to this article.

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