Six BOE candidates to vie for two open seats in Riverhead Riverhead officials count ballots during the June 2020 budget vote. (Credit: Tara Smith) Six candidates will vie for two open seats on the Riverhead Board of Education in next month’s election, according to a list of names announced by the district clerk following Monday afternoon’s deadline to file a petition. Incumbents Brian Connelly, who was first elected in 2018, and Susan Koukounas, who has served on the board since 2012, are both seeking re-election to a three-year term. They will be challenged by newcomers Colin Palmer, Monique Parsons, Shannon Reitz and Yolanda Thompson, who has mounted previous campaigns for the Board of Education, most recently in a 10-way race for three seats in 2020.