Jeffrey Wright Selected To Join Hillsborough Township Committee

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Jeffrey Wright was selected by the Hillsborough Township Committee to fill Olivia Holmes' open seat after she resigned due to her battle with the coronavirus.

The committee seat was left open after Holmes resigned on Feb. 4 because she said she has been battling a "really bad case" of COVID-19 for over a month. Read More: Olivia Holmes Resigns From Hillsborough Committee, Has COVID-19

Wright, a career financial advisor, was selected among three nominees chosen by Hillsborough Democrats. The other two nominees were Donnetta Johnson and David Brook.

"I want to compliment Holmes for her service to the township. I pray anyone of these candidates can live up to the shoes that she filled. I think that she did a good job representing her party and a good job of representing Hillsborough township," said Committeeman Doug Tomson.

"No offense to any of the candidates but I don't think you can hold a candle to Olivia Holmes but please don't take that as an insult but more of a credit to what Olivia did when she was servicing on the township committee."

Mayor Shawn Lipani, Committeewoman Janine Erickson and Tomson all voted in favor of selecting Wright at a special meeting on Tuesday night.

Deputy Mayor Frank DelCore was the only person to vote no. DelCore eluded to differences he and Wright had when running in the 2019 election. Both had previously filed complaints through the New Jersey Election Law and Enforcement Commission against one another, according to centraljersey.com.

"I am very disappointed about the spreading of false information about me and members of the employee base here. I think it was a very poor situation and it does not reflect the seat that is being filled for Ms. Holmes. It continues to leave a great negative taste in my mouth," said DelCore.

Wright will finish out Holmes' term, which is set to expire in November.

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