Three Candidates on May 16 Trustee Ballot

Three candidates will be on the ballot when Huntington School District residents go to the polls on Tuesday, May 16 to select two trustees to serve three year terms on the Board of Education commencing July 1 and running through June 30, 2026. Incumbents Kelly Donovan and Xavier Palacios, who are both running for re-election, are being challenged by Amaru Jones. The polls will be open at Huntington High School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Huntington Council of PTA’s will hold a meet the candidate night on Wednesday, May 3 at 7 p.m. in the J. Taylor Finley School auditorium. Residents are welcome to attend and can submit questions to be posed by representatives of the Suffolk PTA. Light refreshments will be served.

The following are snapshot profiles of the two candidates on the May 16 ballot:

Kelly Donovan

Kelly Donovan grew up in nearby Northport. She and her husband, Dave have been Huntington residents for nearly a decade. She attended Fordham University in Lincoln Center, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. She lived and worked in New York City following graduation.

Mrs. Donovan forged a successful career in marketing with such notable brands as Harper Collins, CNET and Yahoo! prior to co-founding a small business - Craftree - in Huntington Village.

An active and engaged parent to her two daughters at J. Taylor Finley Middle School and Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School, Mrs. Donovan has always played a significant role in the PT A, holding numerous executive board positions from corresponding secretary to co-president, and has chaired countless PTA events.

Mrs. Donovan has established strong bonds with local parents and community members and has a deep appreciation for the Huntington School District and its rich academic, extracurricular and cultural offerings. She is seeking re-election to a trustee seat to help maximize the educational experience of all Huntington students, while balancing nuanced community demands.

Amaru Jones

Amaru Jones is a lifelong Huntington resident. A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 2016, he is 2020 graduate of SUNY Cortland where he majored in political science and minored in African studies.

Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, Mr. Jones taught sixth and seventh grade world history at Success Academy charter school in Springfield Gardens. He currently serves as a legislative aide with the Suffolk County Legislature.

Mr. Jones is co-founder, president and board member of Leaders of the New School, a non-profit whose mission is to develop programs that address the needs of youth from diverse backgrounds and family experiences. He recently initiated a social media marketing campaign to revitalize a neglected park in Huntington Station, which resulted in a $1.2 million dollar grant.

If elected, Mr. Jones wishes to focus on “educating the whole child” in the context of providing as many resources as possible to ensure student success in the classroom and in their future pursuits. From vocational schools to extracurricular endeavors, he understands that our schools provide safe and knowledgeable places where students can learn, grow and achieve their dreams.”

Xavier Palacios

Xavier Palacios is completing his fourth term on the Huntington School Board. A member of Huntington's Class of 1988, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Columbia University and a Juris Doctor at Boston University's School of Law. He is the owner and managing partner of a Mineola-based law firm.

Mr. Palacios and his wife, Laura have three children, including a daughter who was a member of Huntington's Class of 2016, a 2020 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and current student at Cornell Law School; and two daughters in the ninth and seventh grades, respectively at Huntington High School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School.

Mr. Palacios purchased and renovated a distressed property in Huntington Station where he established a law office along with a community revitalization non-profit organization. He is a member of Huntington Hospital’s Board of Trustees as well as the chairperson of the Hospital’s Community Health Committee. He has encouraged parents to be actively involved in their child's education and has been recognized for his work in the community and for his efforts to strengthen opportunities for young people.

Mr. Palacios also volunteers as the high school mock trial team’s legal advisor, training students in the art of courtroom strategies.

Voting Information

Residents will vote on the budget proposed for 2023/24 and a capital reserve fund proposition on Tuesday, May 16 at Huntington High School between 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. To be eligible to cast a ballot an individual must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, a resident of Huntington School District for at least 30 days and be registered to vote in a general election or with the school district.

Applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the District Clerk’s office at the district’s administrative offices located at 50 Tower Street, Huntington Station, at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or up to the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16 for them to be counted in the 2023 election and budget vote.

For more information contact District Clerk Joanne Miranda at 631-673-2126.