Jill Gomez: 2025 Hillsborough Township Committee Candidate
Hillsborough’s General Election on November 4, 2025 includes a contested race for a three-year seat on the Township Committee. Jill Gomez (D) is challenging incumbent Mayor John Ciccarelli (R), who is seeking re-election.
To help residents learn more about the candidates, heyBORO invited both to participate in a written Q&A. Each was given the same questions and equal opportunity to respond. This post features Jill Gomez’s responses in full. The spotlight on John Ciccarelli is also available on our website and social media.
Township Committee members serve staggered three-year terms, with the Mayor elected annually by the Committee. Current Township Committee members include Samantha Hand (D) , John Ciccarelli (R), Catherine Payne (R), Shawn Lipani (R) and Robert Britting (R).
Jill Gomez
2025 Hillsborough Township Committee Candidate (D)
Jill’s Bio
Full Name:
Jill Gomez
Political Party:
Democrat
Years Living in Hillsborough Township:
Jill grew up in Hillsborough and originally moved here 29 years ago.
Current Occupation / Professional Background:
Jill is the Group Fitness Coordinator at Hillsborough’s Pinnacle Health and Fitness, managing a large team of passionate wellness professionals. In this role, she oversees class programming, staff management, and community outreach initiatives, collaborating with other organizations and businesses to promote health, wellness, and active living throughout the community. Jill has spent her career in management roles that focus on people and performance. Her experience spans human resources, real estate operations, and the health and wellness sector. In each of these positions, she has managed budgets, coordinated large-scale operations, and led teams through periods of growth and change. These experiences have strengthened her skills to analyze complex problems, balance competing priorities, and make decisions that serve both people and fiscal realities.
But first…
heyBORO:
If you could design your own signature sundae, what would it be?
Jill:
If I could design my own signature sundae, it would be called the “Hillsborough Harmony Sundae.” The base would be a scoop of classic vanilla, creating a strong foundation that represents good governance built on transparency and accountability. I’d add fresh strawberries from a Hillsborough farm to celebrate our community’s agricultural roots and local small businesses. A drizzle of hot chocolate fudge would stand for collaboration, the rich connections between residents, local government, and neighboring towns when we work together. I’d top it with sprinkles to represent the diversity that makes Hillsborough so vibrant and strong, and a cherry to symbolize the pride and joy that come from seeing our community thrive. Good leadership, like a good sundae, is about balance, the right mix of tradition, creativity, and care, making sure everyone in Hillsborough gets to share in the sweetness.
Candidate Responses: Issues in Hillsborough
Traffic Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
Residents have expressed concerns about traffic congestion and safety, particularly at busy intersections. The Route 206 widening project, intended to improve traffic flow and safety, has experienced significant delays, affecting daily commutes and local businesses.
heyBORO:
How would you address traffic safety and infrastructure improvements in Hillsborough, including the ongoing Route 206 construction delays?
Jill:
Traffic safety and infrastructure improvements are urgently needed in Hillsborough. As a member of the Township Committee, I will prioritize coordination across all levels of government to ensure Route 206 and other major infrastructure projects are completed safely and on time. Living near the Route 206 construction site myself, I’ve seen firsthand the safety concerns, congestion, and disruptions this prolonged project has caused for residents.
The Republican-led Township Committee has been avoiding accountability for the mismanagement of the Route 206 project. They are on record advocating to retain the original contractor that caused dangerous, substandard work along our roadway. This resulted in significant delays and increased costs. Instead of working collaboratively with elected state and county officials to expedite the project’s completion, the Township Committee has spent years deflecting blame. This has done nothing to alleviate the issues residents continue to face with the ongoing unsafe conditions, congestion, and delays.
It’s time for proactive, transparent leadership that gets the job done and keeps Hillsborough moving safely forward.
To address additional traffic and infrastructure concerns, Hillsborough’s Master Plan must be improved to include a cohesive, long-term traffic strategy that increases public transportation options, connects bike lanes, enhances walkability, and provides safer pathways for pedestrians.
Zoning and Development Pressures
The township faces debates over land use and development. Proposals for large-scale warehouse developments have raised concerns about traffic impact and environmental safety. Residents have actively participated in Planning Board meetings to voice their apprehensions about these projects.
heyBORO:
How would you approach zoning and development while balancing growth with the township’s character?
Jill:
Hillsborough has a rich history of farmland, green open spaces, and a small-town feel. It is of utmost importance to preserve our town’s character and history while proactively planning for the future.
The Township Committee’s lack of proactive planning and proper zoning has opened the door for developers to target Hillsborough’s open space and farmland with warehouse proposals. As a result, taxpayers have been burdened with hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to fight projects that could have been prevented through better foresight and stronger zoning protections. The recent rezoning process failed to place meaningful limits on large-scale developers, leaving our community vulnerable and footing the bill.
As a member of the Township Committee, I will work closely with our Planning and Zoning Department and the Somerset County Office of Economic Development to monitor development trends and stay ahead of them. With this foresight, we can adjust our ordinances and zoning regulations to protect our remaining open spaces and neighborhoods, ensuring future development reflects the vision of our residents.
Any future development needs thoughtful planning or long-term guidance. This includes repurposing existing buildings and lots wherever possible, and pursuing development that has purpose, direction, and community benefit.
Affordable Housing and Legal Challenges
Hillsborough has a state mandate to provide zoning for 565 affordable housing units over the next decade. However, this plan faces 12 legal challenges, indicating significant community opposition and concerns about the potential impact on the township's character and infrastructure.
heyBORO:
What is your approach to affordable housing in Hillsborough?
Jill:
Hillsborough’s affordable housing plan is currently being challenged in court, incurring extensive legal fees for our Township and placing a significant burden on taxpayers. Additionally, other lawsuits from developers have emerged as a result of this ongoing litigation and from developers taking advantage of a legal mechanism called builder’s remedy. This process allows a developer to sue a municipality and override local zoning laws to build projects that include affordable housing when a town fails to meet its state-recommended housing obligations.
For decades, our Republican-led Township Committee has taken a reactive rather than proactive approach to affordable housing, spending large sums of taxpayer money on unsuccessful court battles. This short-sighted strategy has forced the town to accept unfavorable housing plans and has led to even more lawsuits from developers.
We need forward-thinking, proactive planning and collaboration with the County and State to ensure that affordable housing obligations are met in ways that strengthen, rather than strain, our community. Through proper coordination and zoning foresight, we can guide development on our own terms and protect our town’s character.
With thoughtful, forward-looking planning, we can protect our quality of life and ensure the long-term health and vitality of our town, while also providing housing options for people of various income levels, including our teachers, first responders, and essential workers.
Board of Education Tax Increases
In April 2025, the Hillsborough Board of Education approved a $176 million budget for the 2025-26 school year, increasing the school tax rate by 5.19%. This decision was made to address a significant reduction in state aid and to maintain educational programs and staffing levels.
heyBORO:
What is your perspective on the recent Board of Education tax increases, and how would you approach balancing educational needs with taxpayer impact?
Jill:
As someone who went through Hillsborough’s public schools and will soon have my own daughter enrolled in them, I understand firsthand how vital it is to ensure our schools and students have the resources they need to succeed. Strong schools are the foundation of a strong community, and they help maintain high property values that benefit every homeowner.
At the same time, I recognize that tax increases, from both the Board of Education and the Township, directly affect our residents and the overall affordability of our town. That’s why it was disappointing to see the four Republicans on the Township Committee vote to raise municipal taxes despite an existing Board of Education tax increase. If I had been on the Committee, I would have voted no, standing with Samantha Hand, to protect taxpayers and ensure responsible budgeting.
While the Township and School Board operate independently, they must work more collaboratively. As new developments are proposed, we need to assess how they will affect class sizes, school capacity, and long-term funding needs. As a member of the Township Committee, I will work closely with the Board of Education to support our schools while keeping Hillsborough affordable for all residents.
Other Township Priorities
While traffic, development, housing, and schools dominate local discussions, residents often have other concerns that impact daily life and community well-being.
heyBORO:
What other issues in Hillsborough do you believe need immediate attention from the Township Committee?
Jill:
After knocking on almost 2,000 doors across Hillsborough, I know many of my neighbors are concerned about affordability. In just three years, the Republican-led Township Committee has raised property taxes by 37% to fund an increase of $7.5 million in the municipal budget, and increased the town’s debt service by over 300%. Most recently, they have voted to raise building permit fees despite bipartisan opposition and the department’s six-figure surplus in 2024.
These choices are setting Hillsborough and its taxpayers up for long-term financial strain. As a member of the Township Committee, I will advocate for a comprehensive review of our budget process and push for creative, proactive ways to reduce the tax burden on residents. This includes expanding shared services with neighboring towns, partnering with county and state officials to bring in new resources, and creating incentives to help small businesses open, grow, and stay in Hillsborough. Together, these steps will strengthen our local economy, support working families, and keep our community affordable.
Additionally, I would advocate for more opportunities for public input in the budget process. Other municipalities host open budget working sessions, send out surveys on key issues, and provide a podium for residents to speak. If Hillsborough could adopt these practices, residents could better understand how their tax dollars are spent, allowing them to express their views before the budget is finalized.
Contact Jill Gomez
Website:
JillforHillsborough.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/JillForHillsborough
