VOTE COLUMN 1 (COHAN, CONTEH-MACKEY, MCDOWELL) BY MAIL, EARLY, OR ON NOVEMBER 3.
VOTE FOR OUR TEAM ON COLUMN 1
1-1: MICHAEL COHAN
Michael Cohan has been a resident of the Township of Union since 1976 with his wife Melinda. He is currently the Vice President of the Union Board of Education.
For 39 years, Michael first taught in Union High School in Vocational and Skilled Trades and then at Kawameeh Middle School in Social Studies and Industrial Arts. He then served as the school district’s Coordinator of Staff Development and Mentoring. After retiring from the school district in 2006, Michael was the Director of Professional Development and Instructional Issues at the New Jersey Education Association for 15 years.
He is a recognized leader at the local, state, and national in the areas of public education advocacy, professional learning, education reform, and policy development. Michael co-chaired the NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) Collaborative Professional Learning Partnership, the NJDOE Quality Teaching and Learning Task Force, and the NJDOE Professional Teaching Standards Board. He also served on various committees on the National Education Association (NEA) including the Professional Standards and Practice Committee, Resolutions Committee, and Member Benefits Investors Service Corporation. Michael also served as a State Director on NEA’s Board of Directors.
Michael has a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts Education from Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey).
1-2: ELSIE CONTEH-MACKEY
Elsie Conteh-Mackey has been a resident of the Township of Union since 2012. She and her husband James have three sons, Jayce, J.J., and Julian who has autism.
With over 25 years of healthcare administration experience, Elsie is currently a Patient Experience Manager at Hackensack Meridian Health. Prior to that, Elsie worked in various positions at Planned Parenthood and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is a member of Kessler Foundation’s Consumer Advisory Board and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Elsie is a leading Special Education advocate in the Township of Union. She co-founded and chaired Union’s Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) and Union’s Disabilities and Mental Health Committee. Elsie partnered with the Union Police Department to develop a Special Needs ID Card Program – equipping first responders with information so they can better interact and help individuals with special needs. Since living in Union, Elsie led in spreading autism awareness with the greater public.
Elsie has a Master of Public Affairs and Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs from the Metropolitan College of New York.
1-3: RONNIE MCDOWELL
Ronnie McDowell has been a lifelong resident of the Township of Union and Vauxhall. He and his wife Tonya have four children, with their two sons Kasie and Micah who are students at Union High School.
Now a retired, stay-at-home dad, Ronnie had a long 34-year career in pharmaceuticals and education. Ronnie was an Analytical and Quality Control Chemist with Johnson & Johnson, Knoll Pharmaceutical Company, Novartis, and Pfizer. He holds two patents with the US Patent and Trademark Office. After a long career in pharmaceuticals, Ronnie then worked as a Middle School Math Teacher at the Jersey City Board of Education.
With a passion for education, Ronnie served three terms on the Union Board of Education. He served as Board President in 2017 and 2021. He oversaw the introduction and rollout of Chromebooks for all high school students and the transformation of Jefferson Elementary School as a community school. In addition to the Board of Education, Ronnie stays active in the community as a Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Vauxhall and member of the Union Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.
Ronnie has a Master of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Master of Arts in Special Education and Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Kean University.
