MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — Last week, the Middletown School Board wasn’t sure about hiring a politically connected attorney to represent the school board.
In a 5-2 vote, the board rejected the hiring.
On Friday, the board met again, this time, they unanimously approved the hiring.
The Middletown Board of Education voted unanimously Friday to rehire Oceanport GOP Municipal Committeeman Bruce Padula as the district’s legal counsel, just two days after failing to reach a majority vote on his appointment.
Padula, a politically charged and connected lawyer with ties to the Monmouth County Republican Party, was previously unable to secure enough board support when Board President Frank Capone first proposed his reappointment last Wednesday.
During that meeting, multiple board members accused Capone of attempting to rush the decision.
However, by Friday’s special meeting, all board members voted in favor of bringing Padula back as the board members were brought into line behind Padula.
The board mentioned the numerous court cases against the embattled district.