Deadline for letters is Monday at noon
By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
As of Wednesday, three Hopewell Township residents had expressed interest in being considered for the school board vacancy created by the July 31 resignation of Linda Mitchell.
They are: Deborah Chitester, of Newman Court, Hopewell Grant, a housing development located west of Brandon Farms; Edward Rankin Gainsborg Jr., of Washington Crossing-Pennington Road; and Brian J. McHugh, of Masters Way, Brandon Farms.
Others interested in being considered for Ms. Mitchell’s seat (term will last until the organization meeting following the April 2009 annual school election) must submit a letter of application no later than noon on Monday (Sept. 8).
• According to a Web site, Ms. Chitester is a self-employed bilingual speech-language pathologist with Second Language, Literacy & Learning Connection, Pennington.
• Mr. Gainsborg served a member of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education from April 1999-April 2008, when he lost his bid for re-election. He is a forensic scientist III with the New Jersey State Police.
• Dr. McHugh, who has a degree in chemical engineering, works for GlaxoSmithKline in Pennsylvania. He was an unsuccessful school board candidate in the April 2008 election.
The letter of application should include qualifications, resume, and reasons for wanting to become a board member. It should be sent to Robert Colavita, board secretary, Administration Building, 425 S. Main St., Pennington, 08534.
The school board plans to interview qualified candidates at the regular meeting on Sept. 15. Following deliberations, the board will appoint and seat the replacement member at that regular meeting or at a future meeting to be announced.
The legal requirements to become a board member include being: a registered voter in Hopewell Township; a citizen of the United States of America; at least 18 to qualify for office; able to read and write; a resident of Hopewell Township for at least one year preceding the date of the election; not be directly/indirectly interested in any contract with or claim against the board.

