School Board Candidate Responds To Campaign Sign Theft From 4 Livingston Homes

LIVINGSTON, NJ — It was an odd kind of crime spree.

This past Friday night, four different school board campaign signs for one candidate were swiped from homes in Livingston, the police said.

Livingston officers took four different reports for thefts.

The signs were all for candidate Fang Gong, a local mom and volunteer.

The signs were taken from front lawns on Irving Avenue (two signs on that street), Mount Pleasant Pkwy, and South Ashby Avenue.

They were all stolen Sept. 1. The Livingston Detective Bureau is investigating, police said.

Gong is running on a platform of "Excellence Empathy and Equity." She has volunteered in the schools and library.

She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers, and a master’s certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. She completed the New Leadership training program at the Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics.

When asked about the matter, Gong responded on Wednesday, "As the school year starts to enroll this week, I wish the Livingston school community a safe, healthy, and enriching academic journey ahead. At the same time, I feel both sadness and disappointment about the situation with my campaign sign, particularly as I remain hopeful for a clean and fair election. My empathy goes out to those in our community who have been disturbed by this unsettling behavior."

She added, "To the individuals involved, it's essential to understand that such actions have impactful consequences—not just for candidates but for the overall integrity of our democratic process. I encourage everyone to stay vigilant and have faith that our police department is committed to our collective safety."

Find out more about Gong's background and platform here.

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