Two potential candidates for the Upper Perkiomen School Board have announced their withdrawal from next month's General Election. One candidate removed her name from the ballot for the Nov. 2 contest. The other's name remains.

            Krista Leh and Tatiana Galota both received enough votes during the May Primary election to advance. Leh led all Democratic candidates with 1,176 votes. Galota was one of four candidates for four seats.

            Leh, listed on her personal Facebook page as the founder of Resonance Educational Consulting, removed her name prior to the Aug. 9 deadline determined by Montgomery County Voter Services. County officials received her withdrawal paperwork on June 1.

            The Green Lane resident did not respond to a Facebook message or a phone message seeking comment.

            Last weekend, Galota informed voters of her decision on a social media website. She cited personal reasons and a change in her focus to essential family matters.

            "As such, I do not feel I could fully commit myself to this position if elected," she wrote in an Oct. 9 post on her campaign page. "Thank you for your understanding and compassion."

            Galota, a Pennsburg resident, asked her supporters to vote for JP Prego and Emily McCormick.  She wrote that the two are running "to ensure the best for all of our students, teachers, and staff.  I wish them the best."

            A second grade teacher at Seven Generations Charter School in Emmaus, Galota also wrote that she looks forward "to a future opportunity where I can support our community and advocate for all of our students, outstanding teachers, and staff."

            Two candidates, Jeff Borchelt and Jessica Gallagher, are mounting write-in campaigns for next month's election. Both have expressed sentiments opposing a face mask mandate for students.

            Borchelt, listed on his Facebook profile as a Red Hill resident, expressed his intent to run for the board during a Sept. 14 meeting. He described the board as "a bunch of tyrants" for allowing requirements implemented by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to stand.

            In a video posted Oct. 6 to her personal Facebook page, Gallagher said she decided to run after attending a school board meeting. She said she was opposed to "what was going on with the masks."

            The Pennsburg resident, sitting inside a car during the video, stated that she did not like "that parents did not have the choice" to have their children wear masks in school. Near the end of the video, the Brooklyn, N.Y. native said she could "provide fresh new ideas while keeping our American ideals intact."