Hillsborough Races Amid Broader School Board Battles

Incumbents Jean Trujillo, Joel Davis and Danny Lee are running for re-election to the Hillsborough Township Board of Education against challengers John Fluet, N. Jannah Hameed and Marc Ehrenkrantz, while Republican incumbent John Ciccarelli is seeking re-election to the Township Committee’s three-year seat against Democrat Jill Gomez. The Hillsborough contests center on a recently adopted $26.6 million school tax-levy increase taken without direct voter input, with Trujillo and Davis opposing the unilateral levy, Fluet campaigning against the increase citing concerns about rising fights, weak physical education, an AP French failure and underpaid English teachers, and Hameed advocating a middle-ground approach to protect teaching positions while limiting homeowner impact. These local disputes mirror broader school-board battles across multiple states ahead of the Nov. 4 elections, where many districts have more candidates than seats and are focused on funding, levy votes, facilities, student safety and transportation. Some districts, including Hillsborough, are also debating the state Incentive Aid program and redistricting effects on property taxes, making voter decisions hinge on both candidate experience and fiscal policy.