By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledge

NEWARK — Eliana Pintor Marin and Alturrick Kenney emerged victorious in today’s Newark school board voting, but a third seat remains up for grabs in a showdown between the city’s political power brokers.

Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson led Tave Padilla by 41 votes tonight, leading to a potential recount.

And trailing by only 40 votes was DeNiqua Matias, who could also prove a contender for the third seat up for election on the nine-member board.

After six contentious months of debate about education and a campaign filled with accusations and rumors, the contest came down to a battle between two slates.

Pintor Marin, Padilla and Chris T. Pernell formed the For Our Kids slate backed by Stephen Adubato in the North Ward. In the East Ward, Adubato’s ally, political boss Joe Parlavecchio, and East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador also churned out big numbers for the ticket.

They faced off against Kenney, Baskerville-Richardson and Matias on the Children First team, backed by council President Donald Payne Jr. and council members Ras Baraka, Mildred Crump and Ron Rice. This team also had support from former Mayor Sharpe James and former council President Donald Bradley.

"When I got their flier, I said: ‘Talk about a homecoming,’" said Newark historian Clement Price, referring to the Children First ticket.

"If that constellation can’t turn out the vote where I live, they may not have the clout they once had," said Price, a Central Ward resident.

But with major disagreement surrounding proposed school reform plans, and the potential co-location of charter schools, the homegrown pro-labor ticket of Children First split votes with For Our Kids, which is seen as closer to the reform movement.

Turnout in school board races is historically anemic. Last year only 8 percent of registered voters turned out in Newark, and it was one of the highest attended elections in a decade. According to figures provided by Essex County, Newark saw 2,538 newly registered voters in the past four months. Turnout reached 8.5 percent.

The most recent filings from the candidates show the two slates raised and spent similar amounts. For Our Kids raised $40,000 and spent $26,184. Children First pulled in $37,633 and spent $24,165. But those numbers are from earlier in the month and do not reflect the final weeks leading up to the election when fundraising and spending is at its most frenetic.

Pintor Marin, the only incumbent, was the top vote-getter, and thanked her East Ward district captains at the Mediterranean Manor as it became clear she would run away with the election.

"You guys have been my family for the last few years," she said. The focus of her second term will be landing a new superintendent, and implementing responsible reform, she said. She also wants the city to use the East Ward’s high-performing district schools as a model.

"Just being the voice down here for the East is so important," she said. "We know how to get it done."

Click here to see the Essex County 2011 school election results.