Biral Patel will be sworn-in for his full-term along with Doug Schneider and Brian Rivera on January 4, 2022. All the three winners pledge to bring changes and promote a thriving environment in the Board of Education
Our Bureau
Edison, NJ
Incumbent Biral Patel and his running Mates Doug Schneider and Brian Rivera has won Edison Board of Education Election with a very comfortable margin defeating an incumbent Elizabeth Conway, Former BOE President Ralph Errico, Edison Democratic Organization Committeeman and Sergeant David Tingle and 3 other candidates.
As per the latest count, Biral Patel is leading with 7064 Votes followed by his running mates Doug Schneider securing 6974 votes and Brian Rivera with 6377 Votes. The three ran their slate under the platform of ‘Building Brighter Futures’.
EDO Committeeman and Sargent at Arms David Tingle was in distant fourth place with 4649 Votes. Incumbent Elizabeth Conway got 4407 Votes and Former BOE President Ralph Errico came in last with 2414 Votes. The team ‘Building Brighter Futures’ ran with a platform of ‘The 3 Pillars of Building Brighter Futures’ which includes Fiscal Responsibility, Focus on Student Achievement and Increase Accessibility.
Biral Patel was appointed as Board of Education Member on January 21, 2021 upon resignation of former BOE President Ralph Errico.
Biral will continue as a Board of Education and will be sworn-in for his full term along with Doug and Brian on January 4, 2022 for their 3-year term. All the three winners pledge to bring changes and promote a thriving environment in the Board of Education.
Immediately thereafter Biral Patel worked with BOE Members and Council members to secure vaccination appointments for educators and staff members and formed a volunteer group to secure vaccination appointments for 1400 Edison residents. His efforts were recognized by Township Mayor and Council.
Biral Patel 
Brian Rivera 
Doug Schneider
Biral holds a Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Computer Science with over 30 Professional Certifications and works at a Global Fortune 500 Organization in Information Technology. He has also coached several individuals with Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations courses and participated as an active member of Discover Engineering, IBM’s program for Science and Engineering Education for students in New Jersey Middle School. He is former member of Edison Township Zoning Board and Water utility advisory committee. Biral has at several instances volunteered with School PTO on Clothing Drives.
Furthermore, he helped children, parents, seniors, and individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic by supplying food and medication, PPE Equipment, and other necessities to Local and County Hospitals. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he volunteered for the New Jersey Department of Health for Covid-19 Awareness Campaign across the State. Also, as a member of a large global non-profit organization, he participated, led, and managed several charitable activities such as Walkathon, Blood Drives, Health Fairs, Disaster Relief Efforts, Community Events, etc., with its local chapter. The will to volunteer and his hard work has earned him several accolades and recognition for Volunteering and Community Service, such as Presidents Gold and Silver Award and more. In 2020 he was recognized by Middlesex County for his outstanding Covid-19 relief efforts.
Doug Schneider is President and owner of DHS Hospitality group and chairman of New Brunswick City Center and the downtown business alliance. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Penn State University and a lifelong Edison resident and a product of Edison Township Public Schools. He has developed and maintained deep ties to the Rutgers campus and the exclusive hospitality partner of Rutgers Athletics with R Hospitality LLC. During his tenure as Chairman, New Brunswick City Center has successfully guided the downtown community to exceed financial expectations and limit closures during a time of unprecedented crisis.
Doug owns several businesses. He has facilitated donation of meals to Edison’s Hands of Hope Food pantry via Soup Kitchen 411 and implemented Covid-19 Testing and Vaccination programs throughout the pandemic.
Brian Rivera is also a lifelong Edison Resident and product of Edison Township Public Schools. He holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Puerto Rican Caribbean Studies from Rutgers University. He also received Master of Arts in Urban Education in Administration and Supervision from NJCU. He currently works as an Elementary School Vice Principal in Perth Amboy.
Having proudly worked in the public education field for over 22 years as both a teacher and an administrator, he feels that he is uniquely well-suited to approach a board of education position from the perspective of both a parent and an educator. Brian has been coaching children for Edison Boys Baseball and Metuchen Pop Warner Football. He also has recently been appointed to the Edison Township Human Relations Commission
All the three are parents of Children attending Edison Township Public Schools and believe a culture needs to be created that is more of a partnership were power and responsibility are shared.
