North ward Councilman Anibal Ramos could take pride tonight in the fact that his charge in the Newark School Board election – Josephine Garcia – was unofficially the top vote-getter.

In a 15-person contest, Garcia received 3,552 votes, far exceeding expectations in what most rain-spattered observers expected would be a lower turnout election.

A bellwether election heading into next year’s mayoral contest, tonight’s results put Ramos – mechanic of Steve Adubato’s North Ward Center political operation – in a good position as citywide kingmaker as others – Mayor Ras Baraka and likely challenger Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins – jockey for support.

To be fair, second-place finisher Reginald Bledsoe, Baraka’s choice, was not far behind Garcia with 3,365 votes.

But telling was the critical North Ward support that third place finisher Flo Johnson received in the north.

With 106/108 districts reporting, here are the latest unofficial results from Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin: