WHAT'S IN A SCHOOL BOARD MAIL AD? AND DOES IT WORK?

With the school board election just three days away, the ads from the nine candidates up for the three seats on the board are flooding mailboxes.

We wanted to take a look at the ads and see how they are seeking your votes, and if it works.

We received big mailers from each of the three slates running, with two copies of the same one from the Wayne Eastman, Madhu Pai, Peggy Freedson team.

See theirs, front and back, below:

It takes advantage of the incumbency of Eastman and Pai, noting their "Board of Ed experience," and differentiating them from other candidates on issues of a school tax limit and open leveling. They also tout the recently approved "access and equity policy."

But declaring "A New Vision for South Orange Maplewood Schools" may be tough given two of them are incumbents.

For Marian Raab, Elissa Malespina and Shannel Roberts, pointing out where they are on the ballot is an effort to make sure voters can find them on the lengthy voting line, and shows they are not in the same location due to a random drawing of name placement by the county clerk.

On the other side, a personalized note to voters seeks a one-on-one messaging effort. 

Then there is the team of Chris Sabin and Annemarie Maini, who sent out the largest of the mailers and included a lengthy list of supporters, a move aimed at seeking support from you because someone you may know supports them. 

The ad's other side declares a need to "make a good district great" and "restore trust," a clear shot at incumbents and pointing to the concerns many have had with the board in recent years.

We have not received any mailers from challenger Dorcas Lind.