OGDENSBURG - This year’s Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education election will feature four people seeking two open seats. The vote will be held May 18 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Ogdensburg Free Academy Golden Dome.

The vacancies will be left by Lawrence “Larry” Mitchell and Dr. Laurie J. Zwiefel who are not seeking reelection.

Here’s a look at the candidates’ profiles:

Robert Bromley

Bromley graduated from OFA and SLPC School of Nursing, and has been a Registered Nurse for 45 years. “I have volunteered for Ogdensburg Rescue Squad for a total of 35 years; 23 years as an EMT and 12 years as a Paramedic. I also taught EMT classes at SUNY Canton. Public education is important to me because my children graduated from OFA,” he said. Bromley says his children furthered their studies following graduation to obtain associates then bachelor degrees and they are working towards their masters degrees. “We need to continue to educate people and hope some will stay in the area,” he said.

Renee Grizzuto

Grizzuto is employed by the Diocese of Ogdensburg as an administrative assistant.

“I started volunteering in the school district around 1998. I was involved with the PTA and served on various hiring committees and steering committees as a parent representative,” he said. “I previously served two consecutive terms on the Board of Education from 2010-2020. I also served on the District's Finance Committee during part of that time,” she said. “Public education is important to me because we need to ensure that our students continue to receive a quality education, which will help prepare them to live a productive life and be productive citizens.” Grizzuto says students are our future leaders, healthcare providers, educators, police officers, mechanics, neighbors, voters, and will be shaping the future.

James Lafave

“I currently work in Ogdensburg as a part-time tax preparer for the Liberty Tax Service. I am also the Northern Region Retirees representative for the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA),” LaFave said. “I am a retired NYS Correction Sergeant, having served the NYS Department of Corrections for 29 years, 10 years as an officer, and 19 years as a sergeant. While working in Corrections I served as a member of the Crisis Intervention Unit (C.I.U.), then was selected by the Deputy Commissioner of Corrections Bellnier & Ogdensburg Correctional Facility Superintendent Frank to be the Team Leader.” Public education is important to Lafave. He believes one child is no more important than another child, and in their choice and decisions to continue their education. “Our district with the community support must cultivate that diversity and put our students first,” he said.

Angela McRoberts

“I am currently in my 23rd year of teaching in the public school system. I am employed by the Heuvelton Central School District as a Special Education teacher. I was previously tenured in Elementary Education as well,” McRoberts said. “Additionally, I worked as a teaching assistant and teacher for St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES in their Extended School Year program for 14 summers.”  McRoberts says public education is important to her because she has devoted her entire adult career to public education and firmly believes that education is the cornerstone of communities. “I care about the quality of education and how we adjust our methods to engage with the advancements in technology. I also recognize that public education is much more than teaching methods, curricula, and technology,” she said.