By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
A pair of candidates running for the Hillsborough Township Board of Education were added to the ballot in the 11th hour, as incumbent Debashis “Dev” Dutta and resident Jean Trujillo filed petitions just before the July 25 deadline.
The two hopefuls join Board President Thomas Kinst and Greg Gillette on the Nov. 8 ballot for three three-year terms on the board.
Mr. Dutta, who is in the final year of his first three-year term, had not committed to running for re-election as late as July 24.
As for Ms. Trujillo, the decision to add her name to the contest came within hours of the 4 p.m. deadline on July 25.
Mr. Kinst has served on the board since 2010 and has been the board president since 2012. He is seeking a third term. Mr. Gillette is seeking his fourth term after spending the last eight years on the board.
All three incumbent members serve on the board’s negotiation committee, which is currently working to draft a new contract with the 1,000-member Hillsborough Education Association of teachers, instructional and other aides, secretaries, custodians and maintenance workers.
Mediation between the board and the HEA began on July 14 after negotiations became deadlocked. HEA members rallied outside the school board offices in support of a new contract.
